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A "People to the Polls -- Huli 2018" will be held beginning at 10 a.m. today at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku, where there will be absentee walk-in voting.
The event is billed as a kanikapila/picnic rally featuring Molokai hip-hop duo The Paniolo Prince and Maile. Attendees are asked to bring food to share, potluck style, as well as their musical instruments. Some fruit and water have been donated.
A loosely organized coalition of community organizations that are committed to effecting change through civic engagement are organizing the event, said Kai Nishiki, an event organizer.
Groups involved include the Aloha 'Aina Project, Malama Olowalu, Save Ka'anapali, Protect Paia, 'Aina Protectors Unite, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Kako'o Haleakala, Cove Park 'Ohana, Styrophobia and VoteHI.
The word "huli" means to turn or change in Hawaiian, a news release about the event said.
"Primary election is happening now, and turnout is always really low. That means if we show up, in numbers, we can turn things around, make things right, huli the system," the news release said.
Early walk-in voting runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Monday to Thursday at the community center and at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Kaunakakai. The County Clerk's Office changed the Maui site this year from the county building to allow for more space and parking.
This year, voters still may register to vote at early walk-in voting sites and on primary election day, Aug. 11, at their assigned polling place.
To register and vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a Hawaii resident and at least 18 years of age.
To check voter registration status, to find a polling place, or to view a sample of a ballot, visit elections.hawaii.gov or call (808) 453-VOTE (8683).
For more information about the People to the Polls event, contact Nishiki by phone at 283-0566 or email at kai.nishiki@gmail.com or check out HULI2018 on Facebook.