Like everyone else, Kealii Lopez knows the political dominance the Democratic Party of Hawaii has enjoyed. That, she said, may be a source of its biggest challenges to overcome: complacency and a lack of voter engagement.
Nationally, there’s been a fight over the way more party convention votes are concentrated in “superdelegates” rather than divided evenly. It’s a sensitive issue, but she grasps the purpose of party officials having some control.
“You don’t want someone who isn’t committed to the idealogy and what the party stands for then becoming the candidate,” Lopez added.
Some of that dynamic played out locally as well, but it’s not the core concern the Democrats face here.
“For me, I think the biggest issue for the Democratic Party is finding a way to have people see why it’s important to be involved,” Lopez said. “We have the lowest voter turnout in the country, and we used to have one of the highest.”
Lopez, 57, recently was elected to chair the party in the state; she succeeds Tim Vandeveer, who came from its more liberal wing. She recoils a bit at these labels, but the division is something that she wants to help heal.
She worries less about the gubernatorial primary battle that looms: Gov. David Ige battling U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa to keep his job. Lopez, former director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for Ige’s predecessor, Gov. Neil Abercrombie, witnessed that re-election wrestling match as well.
Lopez expressed hope that in the end, the Democratic camps would pull together.
She now works as director of government relations for the law firm Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing. The married mother of two lost her eldest son six years ago when he died shortly before his 21st birthday.
Her younger son, now 25, worried that his mother would be too busy juggling the job and the party position. The Waimanalo-born Lopez has a twin sister, Kapua, and a large, close-knit family (her mother hails from the islands, her dad from Massachusetts).
Lopez does see that she has her work cut out for her.
“So much needs to be done here in Hawaii,” she added. “I have a concern about where we’re headed as a state.
“The Democratic Party is critical to that. And if we’re fighting with each other and not focusing on working for the public’s benefit, we’re doomed.”
Question:How will you address the divide between the “Sanders” (liberal) and “Clinton” (establishment) contingents that became visible in the 2016 presidential race?
Answer: There has been too much emphasis placed on the perceived divisions within the Democratic Party. The media added fuel to this imaginary fire by attaching labels like progressive, traditional, liberal and establishment to candidates who shared a majority of positions on issues vital to our nation.
We must move past 2016, and stop being distracted by the few areas calling for deeper discussion, and instead focus on the issues where we agree. These are the issues most important to our nation and our working families, and there is far too much to be done for us to remain mired in trivialities.
Q: How would you say the Democratic Party in Hawaii has changed over time?
A: The changes in the party reflect the changes in society. We became the majority party in a time of great optimism and change, as a generation of young leaders stood up and challenged the existing power structure. New voices were heard, and new leaders emerged. Participation in the party was high, voter turnout was high, and being involved in politics was a civic duty.
Now, we are more mobile, no longer living in neighborhoods that we grew up in, less connected, and less engaged. History has soured us on politics. There is derision when one even speaks of being politically involved, as if it is a waste of time or even sordid.
In some ways, people take for granted many of the changes and reforms we fought for, including better working conditions, economic development, and environmental protections. Civic engagement is no longer automatic.
Having achieved so much, our party spends a lot of our time protecting what we think is valuable. We are less activist, and more mature, but our focus is still on the well-being of our community. …
Q: Is there a down side to putting focus on opposition to President Trump? Any concern that voters are turned off by oppositional politics?
A: I have friends and family who have different political ideologies, and so I believe there is always opportunity to work together to accomplish our goals. However, I believe the current climate that has been fueled by the rhetoric of fear mongering and false statements is leading us down a dangerous path.
The downside to putting the focus on the president is that we want our country to succeed. However, the leader steering the country has placed us in a position that we cannot recognize.
I think what is contributing to the tension is the way people get their information. They receive their news in silos of what they believe, whether it is a conservative or liberal. … We need people to break out of their echo chambers and get a fuller picture of what is going on.
Q: More locally, what would you say are the three main planks of the Hawaii party platform?
A: I would say that we are focused on inclusion, meaning ensuring that there is a place in our party and our community for all sorts of people, beliefs and cultures. We will stand up for our LGBT community, for women, for young people, kupuna, those from other places and who bring other perspectives.
Second, we are focused on opportunity, meaning both that we will support new ways for Hawaii residents to make the life they want right here at home, and that we will open doors to new experiences and a way forward.
Third, we are focused on justice. Everyone in Hawaii is entitled to fair treatment, equal opportunity and just determinations of the issues that concern them.
Q: Do you see your background more recently as a lobbyist to be an asset, or does it associate you too closely with specific interests?
A: I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be a lobbyist. As a lobbyist, I considered myself an advocate. I presented the sincere and accurate positions of my clients before the Legislature. My role was largely educational and, like other advocates, my effectiveness relied heavily on my reputation for fairness and truth.
I was also proud to hold myself to the letter and the spirit of the ethical rules that guide lobbyists’ actions. Anyone who serves as the chair or vice chair of the party must be held to a high standard of conduct and is compelled to uphold and support the platform of the party.
I am proud to become an advocate for our party’s positions and platform. I will do all in my power to ensure that those I interact with understand where I am coming from and with what position I speak from. …
Q:Do you think your past work, both at DCCA and as president and CEO of Olelo Community Media, will inform what you do as party chairwoman?
A: Absolutely. I have an informed perspective regarding the inner workings of state government, the interdependency among the state administration, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
I also understand what it takes to implement policies. More importantly, as the director of the DCCA, I gained a better appreciation for the significant challenges that straightforward legislation can have when being implemented. Even the most well- intentioned legislation that is rushed through the legislative process can have unintended consequences.
In the end, what I hope my experience at DCCA and Olelo bring to the party is a sincere appreciation for the people who take the time to make a difference for Hawaii.
Whether it is in their immediate neighborhood, their broader community, a focused issue — short or long term — they are at least stepping forward, believing strongly in the fact that Hawaii deserves the best from each of us. That’s what I am excited about.
