by Edwin Quinabo
Reaching out to ethnic groups as a campaign strategy has lost some ground amid a broader national backlash against identity politics. But in Hawaii, where ethnic communities make up a large share of the population, some Filipinos say courting ethnic constituencies remains not only a political tradition, but a necessity.
As Hawaii’s 2026 General Election approaches, some members in the Filipino community are further defining ethnic election outreach as something that’s more meaningful and requires sustained relationships that extend beyond election season, or attending Filipino banquets, photo opportunities and cultural events.
They say politicians’ ethnic-specific community appearances do not automatically earn support. Rather, more importantly, Filipinos urge candidates to listen to working families on important issues like affordability, housing, healthcare, education, immigration, jobs and inflation. At the same time, they recognize that Filipino voters are diverse constituents with distinct concerns.
Other Filipinos say partnering and working with Filipino leaders and groups not just in election year is far more influential in getting their votes than just showing up at the last-minute hoping to score votes. They say, Filipinos know better when politicians are sincere and authentic about caring for their community.
Serious attention of Filipinos in politics took several generations to form. As Hawaii’s Filipino population grew, more Filipinos winning elections, and inroads in voter registration and turnout increased – all these breakthroughs helped establish Filipino Americans as visible participants in Hawaii elections.
Some Filipinos say ethnic voting and outreach doesn’t matter as much since those earlier years because Filipinos today are thriving – or at least full participants — in civic, professional, government, the military, and almost every aspect of Hawaii society. Others argue that this is precisely why ethnic voting and outreach matter more, and that there are still many in their community left behind of progress.
These findings are from a set of questions sent to members in the Filipino community for this 2026 General Election Supplement cover story on “Ethnic Voting: Does It Still Matter? And Why Filipinos Should Seek Public Office.” The three questions in the survey are 1) Is it still relevant/important for candidates/politicians to reach out to ethnic groups like the Filipino community? 2) Based on sheer numbers alone, the Filipino vote matters in Hawaii. Why else do you think the Filipino vote matters? 3) Why is it important for more Filipinos to run for political office?
The first two questions are summarized above. For the third question, respondents typically said more Filipinos should seek public office to be part of policymaking. They say it’s not just about identity or inspiring younger Filipino generations, which, of course, matters, they say. But rather, winning a seat is just a start but the real test is whether Filipino leaders after they are elected, they use their position to serve the full public effectively.
Is it still important for politicians to reach out to ethnic groups like the Filipino community?
Almost all politicians running for big races in Hawaii incorporate ethnic outreach as part of their campaign for reasons like getting to know their constituents and what issues they are concerned about. Common sense, also suggests, it could be a winning strategy, when courting a large ethnic group like Filipinos.
Emil Guillermo, California, said while reaching out to ethnic groups are important, he describes what quality outreach would look like. “We need to redefine what outreach means. We’ve been doing ethnic politics the same way for decades. A candidate shows up at a Filipino banquet, eats some lumpia, mispronounces a few Filipino names, learns to say ‘Mabuhay,’ and takes a picture with the community leaders. Congratulations. He’s discovered Filipinos. But has he discovered our issues? That’s the difference between political outreach and political tourism. Look, I’m not suggesting that Filipinos deserve special treatment. I’m suggesting that politicians need to understand the people they represent. And that includes communities whose histories and experiences might otherwise get overlooked.
“The challenge is that Filipinos are not a single political organism. We’re immigrants and American-born. We’re working class, middle class, and wealthy. We’re progressive, conservative, and everything in between. We have our own disagreements about immigration, labor, education, taxes, and the role of government. And that’s healthy. That’s democracy.
“The other problem is with our own community leadership. Sometimes the people politicians meet at ethnic events are the people with the money, the titles, and the connections. They’re not necessarily the people working two jobs, paying exorbitant rent, or struggling to afford groceries.
“So, politicians need to reach beyond the usual gatekeepers. Here’s the real test: When the cameras are gone and election season is over, do the politicians still take our calls? Is anybody listening when a Filipino family has a housing problem? When an immigrant needs assistance? When a worker has a complaint?
“Outreach should be about an ongoing relationship between elected officials and the public.
We don’t need politicians who just know how to say ‘Mabuhay.’ We need politicians who know how to say ‘I hear you,’ and then prove it,” Guillermo said.
Rhea Bautista, MD, MBA, Oahu, not only says it’s important for outreach but offers Filipinos’ historical presence and contributions as reasons why politicians should be reaching out to the Filipino community. “The Filipino story in Hawaiʻi is a story of diaspora, sacrifice and generations of people building a home and a community. Filipinos have contributed to Hawaii through agriculture, healthcare, education, business, public service, the military and so many other parts of our society. Our diaspora story is not only about where we came from. It is about what generations of Filipinos have built wherever they made their home.
“That history deserves to be understood by anyone who hopes to represent our communities. But engagement cannot simply be about asking for votes. It should be about listening, building relationships and understanding the experiences and concerns of the people you hope to serve.” She adds, “And there is no single ‘Filipino vote.’ We are diverse in our generations, backgrounds, professions, experiences and political beliefs. We do not have to think alike to have a voice. We have to participate.”
Dr Jon Avery Go, Honolulu, mentions listening and building trust as important. “Hawaii is a diverse community, and meaningful representation begins with listening. As a physician, I’ve learned that understanding people’s cultural backgrounds and experiences helps build trust. I believe the same applies to leadership. Outreach should go beyond election season and reflect a genuine commitment to understanding and addressing the community’s needs.”
Simon Santos, Kailua, sees ethnic outreach, particularly young voters, as a part of coalition-building. “Candidates running for public office need to reach out to their constituents, organize diverse coalition groups in the community, and carry out a vibrant and effective winning electoral campaign. Tap on the students, younger voting population, make them aware of their voting power, encourage a more involved, higher turnout of voters.”
Gloria Salvador, Moanalua, say ethnic outreach by candidates shows they’re interested in what Filipinos are concerned about. “People are more likely to vote when they feel seen and heard. Politicians reaching out to our community shows that they recognize the concerns and needs we have. They should know our concerns, such as affordability, healthcare, immigration policies and education. When candidates enter into dialogue with our community leaders and attend our community events, they make a statement that they are interested in serving our community.”
Marilyn Domingo, Ewa, talked about the need for candidates to be authentic. “Filipino voters expect outreach to be authentic, meaning we are skeptical of politicians who only appear during campaign season. Outreach tends to be more genuine when it involves ongoing relationships rather than photo ops with the community.”
Leo Asuncion, Pearl City, says even if candidates court the Filipino community, it doesn’t mean they get their votes. “It’s good when candidates get involved in our community. But when they do, it’s not automatic that they get our votes. What’s more important is the issues. Does what they stand for align with our community’s values.”
Based on sheer numbers alone, the Filipino vote matters in Hawaii. Why else do you think the Filipino vote matters?
Guillermo believes a large Filipino population does not automatically create a unified or powerful voting bloc and that representation matters only if it produces meaningful influence and improves life for working families.
He said, “The numbers are impressive. But numbers can be deceptive. Having a large Filipino population doesn’t automatically mean having a powerful Filipino electorate. Some residents aren’t citizens. Some aren’t old enough to vote. Some don’t register. Some don’t participate. And those who vote don’t necessarily agree with one another. The idea that there’s a single Filipino vote just waiting to be delivered to a candidate is political fiction.
“Now here’s the uncomfortable question. More than a century later, have Filipinos simply moved from the plantation fields into the political banquet halls? Or have they gained meaningful influence over the decisions that shape their lives? And who benefits from that influence? The professional class? Business owners? Political insiders? Or also the Filipino families struggling to afford a home in Hawaii? You can’t simply count Filipino politicians or celebrate an election victory and declare mission accomplished. Political power must mean something beyond getting invited into the room,” Guillermo said.
Bautista says the Filipino vote honors generations who overcame barriers to citizenship and political participation. Its power comes not from voting as a bloc, but from informed individuals consistently showing up and making their voices heard.
“For me, the Filipino vote matters because of the history behind the right to cast it. There were generations of Filipinos in America who contributed to their communities while facing limitations on citizenship and political participation. Over time, laws changed, Filipinos became citizens and voters, and Filipino leaders began entering the institutions where decisions were being made. That history makes voting more than a numbers question for me. It is also about honoring opportunities,” Bautista said.
“We honor sacrifice not only by remembering it, but by using the opportunities that earlier generations helped make possible. We don’t need a single Filipino vote. We need Filipinos voting. Learn about the issues. Ask questions. Challenge candidates. Decide according to your own values. And vote,” she said. “One voice matters. When thousands of individual voices choose to participate, a community becomes impossible to overlook. That is how communities become part of the conversation — not because everyone agrees, but because people consistently show up.”
Go said, “The Filipino community’s significance goes beyond voting numbers. Filipinos have contributed to Hawaii through generations of hard work, service, and dedication to family and community. As a physician, I see these values reflected in everyday life. Their voices bring important perspectives on healthcare, education, and opportunities for future generations. Every vote represents not just an individual, but the hopes and concerns of the families and communities they belong to.”
Santos believes voting as a bloc can be a powerful force, “Filipinos are the fastest growing ethnic minority in Hawaii. Taken together they constitute nearly 23% of state population, a potential voting bloc that can be strongly motivated by a specific common concern. A force to recon with,” he said.
Salvador commented that the Filipino vote is only one example of influence. “Filipinos are not just large in size, which makes us influential. But we are active in the larger communities, in churches, workplaces, and public spaces. The fact that we are almost everywhere in Hawaii society makes our influence considerable,” he said.
Domingo emphasizes, “It’s not just the Filipino vote that matters but what it represents. In other words, who are the Filipino voters behind the Filipino vote in terms of their roles in society. We are members of the community. We make economic contributions and play important roles in Hawaii’s workforce. We are community leaders, entrepreneurs, public officials and so much more.”
Asuncion says “the Filipino vote matters just because we are part of the community and reflects a major part of the statewide constituency. Even if Filipinos were a very small percentage of the population, our votes should also matter just the same.”
Why is it important for more Filipinos to run for political office?
Guillermo mentions historic victories by Filipino politicians but electing Filipino candidates does not automatically create community-wide political empowerment. He believes candidates should be judged by their ideas, competence, ethics, and accountability — not ethnicity alone.
“I think the better question is: What happens after Filipinos win? We’ve had historic breakthroughs. Peter Aduja was elected to Hawaii’s territorial legislature in 1954, becoming the first Filipino American elected to public office in the United States. Ben Cayetano became the nation’s first Filipino American governor in 1994. Those were significant moments. But here’s a question we don’t ask often enough. If a Filipino American becomes governor, does that mean Filipino Americans have achieved political equality? Not necessarily. A Filipino face in a position of power is not the same as political empowerment throughout the community. And a Filipino politician isn’t automatically a good politician,” Guillermo said.
“So, I don’t believe in voting for someone simply because that person’s surname sounds like mine. I want to know what that person understands about housing, education, health care, labor, immigration, and the future. And I want to know whom that person will listen to after being elected. Still, there’s value in having a broader range of people willing and able to seek public office. When our political institutions include people from different backgrounds and experiences, they have more opportunities to recognize concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed. But candidates need more than ethnicity. They need ideas, competence, independence, and accountability. I think more Filipino Americans entering public life can widen the discussion of who gets to lead,” Guillermo said.
Bautista said participation should not end at the ballot box. “The history of the Filipino diaspora in Hawaiʻi also shows an evolution — from people who came here to work and build a future, to citizens who voted, professionals who led, advocates who helped shape policy and Filipinos who eventually held public office themselves. Every generation inherited a door that someone before them helped open. Our responsibility is to hold that door open wider for whoever comes next.
“I want young Filipinos to understand that the rooms where decisions are made are not places, they should simply hope to be invited into. They should prepare themselves to lead in those rooms — in government, healthcare, education, business and our community institutions. Representation matters. When people with different lived experiences participate in decision-making, different questions can be raised, and perspectives can be brought into the conversation. But representation alone is not enough.
Having a seat at the table matters. What you do with that seat matters even more.
“When a Filipino enters public service, I hope they bring their history and their community with them — but recognize that their responsibility is to everyone they serve.,” Bautista said.
Go asserts that representation matters because our leaders should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. “Having more Filipinos in public office can bring valuable cultural perspectives and inspire younger generations to consider leadership and public service. However, representation should go beyond ethnicity. What matters most is having leaders with integrity, competence, compassion, and a genuine commitment to serving everyone in Hawaii.“
Santos said, “political candidates who share ethnic background of the constituency can connect a politician platform to the unique needs of the Filipino ethnic communities, addresses issues on job creation, inflation, economic exploitation which heavily impacts majority of the Filipino working class.”
Salvador said, “While anyone can represent diverse constituents, having leaders with shared experiences can help communities feel more connected to government.”
Domingo believes more Filipino voices in government can lead to more informed and inclusive policymaking. “Reflecting Hawaii’s Diversity in Hawaii, Filipinos make up a significant part of the population and contribute greatly to the state’s economy, culture, and workforce. Greater political representation helps government more accurately reflect the people it serves,” he said.
Asuncion said, “when young Filipinos see people who look like them serving as mayors, legislators, governors, or members of Congress, it can inspire them to become involved in public service, community leadership, and civic engagement.”
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