Aloha Reader,

Sam here, co-lead for KIND. It feels like 100 years ago, when Michelle Obama gave an impactful speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, telling us, "Don’t complain. Do something." At first, I didn’t know what that meant, then I heard the folks at Indivisible talk about the need to go local. After all, that’s how the radical right became so strong.

My First Public Testimony

In July 2025, I submitted my first public testimony. I wrote and spoke before the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission about the urgent need to protect immigrant rights and how the Commissioners must ensure that the future Police Chief will do the same. I testified again in August and then again yesterday (Friday).

Over those three months, the commission's reaction has turned 90°: from "Why are you talking about immigration?" to "Please be assured that we’ve heard you and will respect Immigration rights to be a key consideration in the selection process for the new Police Chief."

Wow, I did not expect this kind of positive turn, but I'm also not naive. We must keep up the pressure so the decision-makers turn another 90° and their words into action. 

But it sure felt good to have done something.

West Hawai'i Call To Action

Every time I contemplate new actions I can take, I think it would be much easier if someone trained me to be a better-informed and engaged citizen. That’s why I’m thrilled that State Representative Della Au Belatti accepted our invitation and will be at the West Hawai'i Civic Center on Monday, September 22, 2025. She’ll lead a community session on advocacy based on the One Million Rising campaign, adapted to Hawaiʻi's unique territory.

Representative Belatti chairs the public safety committee in the Hawaii House of Representatives. In that capacity, she has been the state legislature's chief voice for immigrant rights. She also exemplifies the elected official who can thoughtfully and knowledgeably advocate for Hawaiʻi constituents.

She will propose draft legislation to protect our neighbors from federal law enforcement overreach. And she’ll explain the need for a special legislative session to

• Stop masked agents; Stop the secret police; No Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between Local Law Enforcement and the Federal Agencies of DHS/HSI/ICE
• Stop Legislative committees from making funding decisions behind closed doors
• Ensure food funding for keiki, kupuna, and the community
• Save Community Health Centers

She will provide guidance on how the rest of us can help. This is a potluck community meeting, so bring pupus to share and be ready to learn. ​Please register here​.

I hope to see you on Monday at the West Hawai'i Civic Center. I promise it will be worth your time. I've found that no longer complaining but doing something instead is the cheapest form of therapy and yields results.

Mahalo nui loa!

Aloha,
Sam,
Kona Indivisible Co-lead

​ - The Kona Indivisible Team ​konaindivisible.org​ ​info@konaindivisible.org​

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