HONOLULU — May 1 is the deadline for people to register with the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to participate in forming a sovereign governing entity for Native Hawaiians.
More than 121,000 people of Native Hawaiian ancestry have signed up since the effort launched in the summer of 2012. The signature drive is called Kanaiolowalu, for the sound of people gathering.
Registrants who are at least 18 are eligible to run for a delegate position. They can also vote on delegates and, eventually, governing documents.
The efforts follow the Hawaii’s passage of Act 195 in 2011. That law asserted that Native Hawaiians are the indigenous population of Hawaii and deserve the right to self-govern. It also supports the possibility of federal recognition of Native Hawaiians.
Online registration can be found at www.kanaiolowalu.org.