In June 2016, ELP Alumnae Keani Rawlins-Fernandez ‘15, officially filed her candidacy for Maui County Council to represent her home, Molokai.Keani received a Juris Doctor Degree and certificates in both Native Hawaiian Rights and Environmental law from the William S. Richardson School of Law. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii.

Keani and her family have been embedded in the Molokai community for generations as far back as she can trace her genealogy. She cares deeply for her community and would like to see a better future for her children and Molokai. By participating in local government, Keani believes she can help foster positive changes in her community.   If elected, Keani will work to implement policies that function with the delicate balance between economic development and environmental protection in mind. It is her goal to ensure that local families are not priced out of Hawaii and that future generations will inherit a healthy environment that they can enjoy and cherish. She has high hopes for the future of Maui County and believes the key to success will be smart investments in education, affordable housing, and the local economy.

Keani credits ELP and the Native Hawaiian Law Program for equipping her with the knowledge and advocacy skills that have prepared her to better serve her community.  “I plan to support initiatives that prioritize environmental protection, education, food sustainability, affordable housing, and smart development,” she further explained, that “these policy efforts are important, as we see our families struggling to make ends meet at a time when Hawaii is ranked at the top for the highest cost of living.”

ELP Director David Forman praised Keani for her commitment to serving the people of Molokai and Maui County, adding that “we are proud of the numerous ELP alumni who are using their skills and talents to serve the public in a variety of ways; if Keani’s constituents decide to elect her to the Maui County Council, we are confident that she, too, will make important contributions to society.”

For more information, please visit her website at votekeani.com or her Facebook page at facebook.com/votekeani.