Candidate Q&A: 2nd Congressional District — Eric Hafner
“The biggest issue facing Hawaii is the continued illegal occupationÌýof our country by the United States.”
Editor’s note:ÌýFor Hawaii’s Aug. 13 primary election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions.
The following came from Eric Hafner, a Republican candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, which includes rural Oahu and the neighbor islands. There are four other candidates, including Republican Angela Kaaihue, Democrats Tulsi Gabbard and Shay Chan Hodges, and nonpartisan candidate Richard Turner.
Go to Civil Beat’sÌýElections GuideÌýfor general information, and check out other candidates on theÌýPrimary Election Ballot.
Name:ÌýEric Hafner
Office seeking: 2nd Congressional District
Occupation: Ordained minister, diplomatic adviser and legal consultant
Community organizations/prior offices held: Involved with a variety ofÌýmedical cannabis patient advocacy and civil liberties efforts inÌýHawaii and beyond.
Age as of Aug. 13, 2016: 25
Place of residence: Wailuku, Maui
Campaign website:
1. This year has seen an outsized influence from people who want bigÌýchanges in how government is run. What would you do to change how theÌýU.S. House is run?
As a Hawaiian nationalist, this is an important question for me. ForÌýHawaiians, the main goal will be to remove influence that the U.S.ÌýCongress has over Hawaii via decolonization through devolution ofÌýpower. In an independent Hawaii we would not allow corporateÌýinfluence of politics.
2. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizen’sÌýinitiative process. Do you support such a process?
Hawaii is not really a state, but yes, Hawaiians should be able to create and modify laws via voter initiative. The only limitationÌýcurrently would be the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution that
limits our right to self-determination as an occupied country. This isÌýa result of American occupation of Hawaii.
3. Hawaii has long been dominated by the Democratic PartyÌýestablishment. Should this change, and if so, how?
The Democratic Party has maintained illegal U.S. rule in Hawaii. InÌýan independent Hawaii, there will be numerous different politicalÌýparties with diverse viewpoints. U.S. political parties in Hawaii are
simply a relic of the overthrow and bear little relevance to Hawaii.
4. Voters complain their elected officials don’t listen to them. WhatÌýwould you do to improve communication?
I believe that elected officials should live with their constituents and frequently visit different neighborhoods in their constituency. IÌýalso believe the salary of an elected official should be no higher
than the median income of the people of their district. OccupiersÌýusually don’t listen to their colonies though, so until the AmericansÌýleave Hawaii not much will change.
5. What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your state orÌýdistrict? What will you do about it?
The biggest issue facing Hawaii is the continued illegal occupationÌýof our country by the United States. This is an international crisisÌýand acts of genocide have occurred against Native Hawaiians. As aÌýresult of the occupation, Hawaiians have been put into poverty and weÌýare facing a crisis with the War on Drugs and Homelessness.
We need toÌýtreat drugs as a health problem instead of a criminal one and provideÌýhousing for all our citizens. Cannabis must be immediately legalized.ÌýOur police have also been used as a tool of occupation and we mustÌýtake this tool away from our oppressors through fully devolvedÌýaccountable policing and justice in Hawaii, with no more U.S.Ìýcontrol.
6. What should America’s role in the world be? What would you do toÌýmove us in that direction?
America’s role is one for the United States to determine. Just as theÌýfuture of Hawaii should be that for the people of Hawaii toÌýdetermine. Hawaii is an occupied nation and the United States has noÌýright to remain here. But I’d like to see an America more like SwedenÌýor Switzerland and less like Nazi Germany. An independent Hawaii,Ìýfollowing economic policies advocated by James Connolly would work forÌýHawaiians. I worry about people like my hero, Assata Shakur, who has beenÌýpersecuted for standing up to the American empire.
7. The country is torn apart. What would you do to rebuild bridges?
The first step to rebuilding America is helping Americans understandÌýwhat is theirs and what belongs to someone else. Hawaii is anÌýindependent kingdom that has been illegally occupied by the Americans
since 1893. A peaceful future of prosperity for all Hawaiians isÌýpossible in a free and independent Kingdom of Hawaii. In the words ofÌýBobby Sands, the late Irish Republican Army hunger striker who died inÌý1981, “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children.”
