Election denial denied
Last week, the Hawaii Elections Office managed to sidestep yet another legal challenge when the Hawaii Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit brought by Karl With A K Dicks. Dicks, a perennial opponent of Hawaii’s election procedures and a candidate for Honolulu mayor this year, argued that the state’s primary election ballots were unconstitutional. He claimed that the requirement for voters to indicate a political preference violated several state laws and the state constitution.
Dicks aimed to persuade the court to mandate the Hawaii Office of Elections to redesign the ballot to align with his interpretation of Article II, Section 4 of the Hawaii Constitution, which pertains to voter registration and voting. He bolstered his argument by referencing multiple sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes related to elections.
Chief Election Officer Scott Nago, the lead defendant in the case, argued for dismissal, noting that since the primary election had not yet occurred, there were no results to contest. He also pointed out that Dicks failed to present a valid claim. The court agreed, adding that Dicks could only challenge the ballot in the specific race he’s participating in—the mayoral race—not across all state races.
Dicks, known for his email handle “Karl with a K,” has a history of contesting Nago and his office. His prior political endeavors include a failed attempt in 2022 for a Republican state Senate seat.
For those interested in the legal details, here’s the Hawaii Supreme Court’s opinion for further reading:
The Meaning of Life: Immortality Degree Lawsuit Tossed
In another legal development, The Sunshine Blog was disheartened to learn that a lawsuit aiming to compel numerous colleges and universities to offer an undergraduate degree in Immortality was dismissed by two federal judges, including Hawaii U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson.
Unfortunately, the plaintiff, Ali Afshar, who represented Age Reversal Unity, was not a licensed attorney and failed to pay the necessary filing fee. Although Judge Margaret Garnett of the Southern District of New York initially allowed Afshar’s case to proceed due to his claim of financial hardship, both Garnett and Watson ultimately dismissed the case. Watson did, however, suggest that the suit could be refiled by a licensed attorney who could meet the filing requirements.
Age Reversal Unity and Afshar responded with an appreciative email, thanking The Blog for its prior coverage and informing us of the court’s decision. Their message argued that if universities focus on emerging fields like AI and finance, they should also address immortality, which they see as a burgeoning field with significant potential.
Local Politics: Kamala Harris and Hawaii’s Democratic Divide
Nationally, Democrats have rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris as their preferred nominee following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the reelection race. Last week, the Democratic Party of Hawaii declared that local delegates who were initially pledged to Biden have now committed to supporting Harris at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.
However, divisions remain within the local party. Nearly a third of Hawaii’s voters in the presidential preference vote earlier this year chose “uncommitted” to protest U.S. policies regarding the Gaza conflict. A recent party meeting featured discussions with these uncommitted delegates, focusing on their commitment to peace and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The party’s press release emphasized that efforts are underway to work towards common goals.
Cannabis and Candidates: Hawaii’s Legislative Standoff
While cannabis is legal for adult use in twenty-four states, three U.S. territories, and several countries including Canada, Hawaii’s legislative efforts to advance cannabis legalization recently faltered. The Hawaii Legislature rejected two bills that could have moved the state toward legalization.
In response, the Hawaii Alliance for Cannabis Reform has released a voter guide to inform voters about where candidates stand on the issue. Nikos Leverenz, board president of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii—part of the coalition that includes the ACLU of Hawaii, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and the Hawaii Innocence Project—stressed the need for new legislation. He argued that such a statute could create quality jobs and stimulate economic growth across the state.
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