President's Perspective

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  Wai'anae, Hawai'i
  June 25, 2014
  
  This summer, 18 year old Abreen Padeken has got a lot on her plate. For starters, she sells garlic fries every Saturday with her family at the Waianae Farmer’s Market. On top of that, a large portion of her time is spent as Student Body President at Waianae High School. To add the icing on the cake, Abreen is occupying the rest of her time and efforts to helping a local candidate.
  
  “My family has been involved in sign waving and pep rallies and we will be doing phone banking and then going from door to door trying to get one on one person interaction.” Abreen said.
  
  At around the age of six, Abreen was exposed to politics and the importance thereof. Her father, Daniel Padeken Jr., is a passionate advocate for teen involvement in the voting system.
  
  “See, if there’s a big push in the high schools leading up to the 18 and 19 year olds about voting and the importance of voting and making a difference in your community...people would find it important so when they come 18 years old they look at it like, ‘Wow, I finally can vote!’” he said.
  
  According to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement fact sheet, less than one third in the islands between the ages of 18 and 29 voted in the last Presidential election.
  
  This was by far the worst youth turnout in the country.
  
  “People should know who’s going to be in the government, who’s going to be working for what they value, who’s going to be fighting for them.” Abreen said.
  
  Organizations like We Vote Hawaii, are contributing to drive the fight towards civic education.
  
  “The public schools do not have a program of civic education...if you really understood that who you and what you voted for made a difference in your daily life now, not in the future, I think more people would vote,” said the We Vote Hawaii founder Lyla Berg.
  
  This program helps the students by educating and registering them at 16 instead of 18. The hope is to prepare them for the democratic process.
  
  “I believe our young people are the leaders of today not just in the future and if you could make your voices really heard through the voting process...I think adults are going to pay attention and we certainly can learn a lot from you.” said Lyla Berg.
  
  A lot needs to be done to turn the page on a new chapter in Hawaii. Between assisting her parents at the Farmer’s Market, helping out a candidate, and working on her responsibilities as Student Government President, Abreen knows there’s still tasks that need to be worked on at Wai’anae High. As the Student Body President, she would like to talk to the students and various clubs, resolving their concerns.
  
  “I care. I care about everything that’s going on,” Abreen said.

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LOOKING BACK

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"I learned about how important it was to vote as a teen."



Gary Domingo-Oka, Photographer/Editor

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"I never knew politics was such an important thing to be involved in."


Diamond Tuisano,  Writer/Reporter

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