Kuleana means responsibility, but it also means a right and a privilege.

As a Gen Z young adult often consumed by social media, I know my peers have a lot to say about anything and everything. We have grown up in a world where we have the technology and the ability to tell the world every detail of our lives.

We also use technology to persuade and influence. At 18, I now have the right and privilege to persuade and influence through the power of my vote.

Imagine your ideal Hawaii: what does it look like?

My vision of an ideal Hawaii is different from what I see when I drive around Maui or travel to the neighboring islands. The very first problems I see are homelessness associated with vulnerable people suffering from a whole range of problems.

These are just the people who are visible on the highways, side streets and parking lots of our communities. What about invisible individuals and working parents who cannot earn enough income to provide a stable home environment for their family?

The cost of living in Hawaii is ridiculous. What can you do about it?

Become an informed voter. This is your chance to influence the decisions that affect your daily life. Make your voice heard in local elections because the priorities and decisions of these local elected officials have a direct impact on you and your immediate community.

Invest time and energy to learn more about candidates. Do their values ​​and priorities match yours? Do they have evidence that they engage in community affairs and support or protest issues that are important to you?

Your vote is powerful support for the issues that matter most to you. Your vote for or against a candidate directly influences the policies and decisions that shape our community.

My parents always taught me and my siblings to stop complaining and do something about it if we don’t like the way things are going. This is a call to action to the youngest voters in our community.

What issues are important to you? What would make life in Hawaii better for you and your community? Engage in conversations with friends, family, and community members.

Spread the workload by sourcing different local candidates. Share ike (experience), kukakuka (think, consult), then encourage each other to vote in the next election. Embrace that kuleana (responsibility).

If we can influence others on social media to engage in frivolous TikTok trends, we can certainly use our power in much more productive ways.