The LWV was asked by the Chair of the Political Science Department at UH Hilo to provide a workshop to the Political Science (PoliSci) club on how to create and submit meaningful testimony on legislative measures. Eileen O’Hara, a director for the Hawaii County branch of the LWV and also adjunct faculty with UH Hilo offered to lead the workshop which was held Friday, March 8th at the UCB computer classroom.  She reached out to Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz to help host this two-hour workshop.

Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz

Approximately 15-20 students attended, some leaving early and others arriving late due to class schedules. The students were very responsive to the guidance presented, asking many relevant questions, and were walked through access to both the County and State legislative websites to learn how to track bills and submit testimony.

Ashley, a graduate of the Political Science department of UH Hilo in 2010, urged them to consider internships with the County and described her internship with the late Senator Daniel Akaka’s office in Washington D.C. in 2009 at the beginning of the first Obama term as the U.S. President.  She also urged them to consider re-starting Model UN, which is a program open to high school and college student groups and which she had found most useful in her student tenure at UH Hilo.

The Political Science Club at UH Hilo has been dormant for a while, and this was a kick-off event to encourage students to get involved.  The club President, Amaya Hirata, can be reached by email at: ahirata7 [at] hawaii.edu.

As a member of LWV, I urge all to reach out and help these young folks learn how to navigate elections and influence legislation.  Ashley, who is also now the CEO of Na Leo suggested teaming up to record these types of workshops that can then be replayed on public TV.