Friday, October 23, 2026

Why We Ask Questions Before Offering Answers

Twenty Charter amendments. Two constitutional amendments. Candidates for federal, state, and local offices.

If you’ve looked at your 2026 General Election ballot, you may have felt a little overwhelmed.

You’re not alone.

Over the last week, I’ve tried to step back and study both the Oʻahu Charter and the State Constitutional Amendment questions. I found them overwhelming, and I began thinking about people in our faith-based community who are trying to balance family, careers, and everyday life and may not have the time or resources to fully understand what each question could mean for Hawaiʻi.

That’s one reason we created our 2026 voter education resources.

Our goal was simple: to help voters better understand what they’re being asked to decide. Through our voter guides, website resources, and Faith and Family First podcast, we’ve worked to make election information more accessible.

Rather than providing a list of recommended YES or NO votes on the amendments, we chose to introduce the questions, explain their general purpose, and encourage voters to consider their potential consequences.

Of course, that may not have been what everyone was looking for. We received a few comments asking why we didn’t simply tell people how to vote on these questions.

So, why did we take this approach?

We believe informed citizenship involves more than checking a box. It also involves asking questions.

What would this proposal change? Why is the change being proposed? What are the potential benefits? Are there unintended consequences? And where can I find additional information?

We also recognize that thoughtful people, including those who share the same Christian principles, may reach different conclusions about how those principles should be applied to particular public policies.

Our faith informs our understanding of human dignity, the common good, stewardship, and responsibility. Applying those principles to complicated questions of government often requires careful judgment.

We don’t claim to have every answer, and we recognize that our small organization cannot provide an exhaustive legal or financial analysis of every issue appearing on the ballot.

However, what we can do is provide accessible information, raise important questions, and encourage voters to continue learning.

Hawaiʻi Family Forum is a 501(c)(3) educational organization. We do not endorse political candidates or political parties. While we do take positions on public policy issues within our mission, our purpose with these particular election resources was to help voters examine the questions and make their own informed decisions.

Ultimately, our goal isn’t simply to help you cast a ballot. It’s to encourage you to become an informed and engaged citizen.

We invite you to explore our election resources, listen to our podcast discussions, consult additional reliable sources, and prayerfully consider the decisions before you.

Your vote matters. So does the thought you put into it.

Pray. Learn. Vote.

Faithful Citizens. Stronger Communities. A Better Hawaiʻi.