Students Lead Effort to Boost Civic Engagement with Kids Voting ...

Punahou Academy students Sophia Howell ’26, Lulu Cole ’27 and Kahn Ho ’25 have taken up the charge of encouraging civic participation ahead of November’s presidential election by helping steer the Kids Voting Hawaii (KVH) initiative.

Established in 1996, KVH is a statewide, nonpartisan voter education program that gives K – 12 students the opportunity to participate in a mock election, allowing them to get involved in the democratic process before they’re eligible to vote. The program is committed to creating lifelong voting habits in children, while encouraging greater adult voter turnout.

The KVH team, which includes students from across the state, is working closely with Representative Amy Perruso’s office to ensure that the 2024 KVH student election runs smoothly. As heads of the KVH Student Leadership Committee, Howell, Cole and Ho are helping bring the initiative to public and private schools.

“We’re helping increase civic engagement by preparing students for a lifetime of voting and civic participation, encouraging exploration of candidates and current issues, and sparking dialogue between peers, educators and parents,” the students shared of their work with KVH. The students are actively involved in Punahou’s Davis Democracy Initiative, where they’ve been inspired by the program’s mission of promoting equity, justice and civil discourse.

While the KVH election is targeted at those under 18, it’s expected to have a wider impact. The students cited research that shows that youth participation in democratic processes can lead to higher adult voter turnout. “This is especially important for our state, which often ranks 49th or 50th in voter turnout,” the group said. “We hope the experience students get from this KVH election will inspire adults in their communities to become more involved.”

In recognition of their efforts, Howell, Cole, and Ho were recently awarded the Hawai’i Student Social Justice Education Award, a grant they plan to put towards the youth election. Their goal is to fund a statewide “I Voted” sticker competition. Every student who votes – there were 40,000 in 2022 – will receive a sticker designed by a local student.

“We know that increasing civic engagement now will have a lasting impact on the future of our local communities,” the students shared. “While this endeavor does require a lot of hard work, we have been motivated by the positive response of schools and students.”

With the 2024 KVH election on the horizon, Howell, Cole and Ho are excited to inspire the next generation of voters.