West Hawaiʻi Indivisible chapter engages thousands in democracy protection, immigrant rights advocacy, and voter outreach
KAILUA-KONA, HAWAIʻI – Kona Indivisible (KIND), a grassroots volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing democracy in Hawaiʻi, proudly announces its significant accomplishments throughout 2025, a pivotal year for the organization's establishment and impact. Founded in January 2025, KIND emerged in West Hawaiʻi to resist corruption, authoritarianism, and inequality, joining the national Indivisible movement, which boasts over 2,700 chapters across the United States.
Throughout the year, KIND mobilized thousands of residents to take political action promoting inclusion, tolerance, and fairness. The organization's efforts resulted in groundbreaking county resolutions, unprecedented protest participation, extensive voter outreach, and comprehensive immigrant support programs.
Protests and Mobilization
KIND organized nine major protest events throughout 2025, attracting thousands of participants and contributing to what became the largest single-day protest in U.S. history:
- February 17: "Not My President's Day" protest with 110 attendees
- April 5: "Hands Off" protests mobilized 1,500 Kona residents
- June 14: "Kick Out The Clowns" demonstration drew over 1,700 participants
- October 18: "No Dictators" demonstration attracted 1,500 attendees despite inclement weather, contributing to 22,000 participants locally and 7 million nationally
"Our community showed up repeatedly and powerfully throughout 2025," said the KIND leadership team. "West Hawaiʻi demonstrated its commitment to democratic values and immigrant rights protection."
Historic Policy Victories
Working in coalition with other Big Island chapters, KIND successfully advocated for groundbreaking county resolutions protecting residents from federal immigration enforcement overreach:
- Resolution 320-25, introduced by County Councilwoman Michelle Galimba, passed unanimously and directs the Mayor and Police Chief on non-cooperation with Department of Homeland Security agencies
- Resolution 399-25 advises state legislators on implementing comprehensive No Secret Police legislation
Hawaiʻi County remains the only county in the state to adopt such protective measures. KIND's sustained testimony before the County Police Commission influenced the police chief selection process, ensuring transparency through public candidate interviews scheduled for January 2026. The organization also established productive dialogue with Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna on immigration enforcement policies, confirming that the Hawaiʻi Police Department is not cooperating with ICE.
Immigrant Rights Protection
KIND implemented a comprehensive immigrant rights protection program:
- Know Your Rights training for 40 community leaders and distribution of "red cards" to educate about civil rights
- Rapid Response network established to investigate and document ICE activity on the Big Island
- #WePourAlohaOverICE campaign encouraging local businesses to post private property and declare non-cooperation with immigration enforcement
- Six monthly food drives and distributions for immigrant families through partnership with Aloha Latinos
- Two DJ Drag Bingo fundraisers and Christmas toy distribution for Aloha Latinos
- Biweekly bilingual courthouse protests providing ongoing support for immigrant community members
There has been no major DHS/ICE raid on the Big Island since May 2025, suggesting KIND's advocacy and preparedness have helped discourage federal enforcement actions.
Voter Engagement and Democratic Participation
KIND members wrote 25,782 postcards to voters across seven states in six months, participating in 14 postcarding parties and ongoing home-based outreach alongside the League of Women Voters. The chapter supported statewide electoral efforts by:
- Organizing a Voice of the Voter Survey generating 520 responses with 70 pages of verbatim feedback
- Hosting candidate forums now available on the Indivisible Hawaiʻi YouTube channel
- Creating a comprehensive Primary Election Information Center
- Providing consistent testimony to the State Elections Commission defending mail-in voting against elimination proposals
State Legislative Advocacy
Following a September workshop with State Representative Della Au Belatti attended by over 50 people, KIND launched the #SpecialSessionNow campaign, mobilizing members to petition for a special legislative session addressing:
- No Secret Police Act implementation
- Assurance of Food Aid (SNAP) protection
- Healthcare services protection
- Budget allocation transparency
KIND established a legislative committee to track and coordinate advocacy on priority bills for the 2026 session, focusing on nine provisions of the national No Secret Police toolkit developed by Indivisible, ACLU, and partner organizations.
Looking Forward
KIND will continue its work into 2026 with its next major event scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, 2026. The organization's leadership team emphasized that sustained community engagement and coalition-building remain central to protecting democratic institutions and immigrant rights in West Hawaiʻi.
"What began with a dozen people at picnic tables has grown into a powerful grassroots movement," the leadership team noted. "Together, we're building the resistance West Hawaiʻi needs at the local and state levels."
KIND invites all community members to join in the effort to safeguard democracy in Hawaiʻi and Make America KIND Again. Community members can sign up for the organization's newsletter at konaindivisible.org/newsletter, which reaches over 1,000 local subscribers with action alerts, event information, and opportunities for civic engagement.
About Kona Indivisible
Kona Indivisible is a grassroots organization helping the people of Kailua-Kona take political actions that promote inclusion, tolerance, and fairness. Part of the national Indivisible movement and the Indivisible Hawaiʻi State Network (IHSN), KIND provides local residents with opportunities for civic engagement, advocacy training, and community building. For more information, visit konaindivisible.org.
