Hawaii Family Forum Welcomes New Director
The Hawaii Family Forum has named Allen Cardines Jr. to lead the socially conservative advocacy group.
Cardines’ appointment, which was effective today, was first reported by the conservative blog .
The appointment was confirmed by Francis Oda, the forum’s chairman.
Cardines is senior pastor of New Hope Church Nanakuli and will remain in his pastoral role.
Oda credits Cardines for organizing the volunteers at the forum’s 2010 iVote rally at the Capitol and for organizing neighbor island pastors and churches in opposition to Hawaii civil unions.
“He is a leader in our community and we are extremely blessed to have him take this key position,” he said in a statement. “I know that we can count on all of you to give him and Hawaii Family Forum your continuing support. As we proceed with the iVote campaign in this crucial election year, we can easily recognize that it is for such a time as this that the Christian community must remain unified, diligent and effective.”
The , according to its , is a nonprofit “pro-family research and education organization, dedicated to protecting, preserving and strengthening Hawaii鈥檚 families. We are not involved with political candidates or political parties; however, we are actively involved in the public policy concerns that impact our families, neighborhoods and communities.”
The forum has a partnership with the Hawaii Catholic Conference to lobby on behalf of the Diocese of Honolulu. Issues of concern to the groups include abortion, age of consent, domestic violence, housing and the homeless, gambling, stem-cell research and traditional marriage.
The forum’s previous executive director, Dennis Arakaki, stepped down earlier this summer to pursue his own ministry interests. Arakaki is a former Democratic legislator.
“Dennis led the organization during the critical challenge of and served as liaison to churches, Christian leaders and the larger community,” said Oda. “On behalf of the Christian community, we want to thank Dennis for standing in the gap ‘for such a time as this.’ His efforts have been a blessing to our community.”
