A Vote of Confidence in Local Leadership & a Damning Indictment of National Neglect
- Abbra Green
- Nov 12
- 3 min read
The 2025 Libertarian Party of Hawaii (LPHI) State Convention was an assembly marked by credentialing controversy through a last-minute influx of out-of-state members aimed at derailing the re-election of our chair. In the chaotic 48 hours prior to the event, just under 100 out-of-state individuals (with no history of engagement in Hawaii Libertarian efforts) submitted rushed membership applications to take on remote voting privileges. Their intent, (later confirmed) was to overload the delegate roster, block Chair Austin Martin's re-election. And for what? To install a mainland faction and directly undermine affiliate independence?
With the votes later confined to the 15 duly qualified in-person delegates per RONR Chapter 9, Austin Martin ran unopposed and secured re-election with a decisive 14–0 vote (one abstention). This transformed a near-coup into a resounding show of support. The convention pressed forward, appointing new Executive Committee members and closing in unbreakable unity. Procedural integrity and strong leadership can repel even the most audacious outside takeover.
Post-Convention, we distributed our biennial Party Health Survey to every active member. The survey closed on October 9, 2025, capturing feedback on LPHI operations, LP National performance, and pathways forward. (Of note, no Executive Committee (EC) members responded.)
LPHI: 4.87/5 Satisfaction Amid Convention Chaos
Despite the orchestrated attempts to subvert the convention, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii earned an extraordinary average satisfaction rating of 4.87 out of 5. Members praised the EC’s resilience in defending affiliate autonomy, the clarity of our principled platform, and the aloha spirit that powered us through adversity.
Overwhelmingly, the top suggestion for improvement was to “fix” our bylaws. In direct response, the Executive Committee has continued to schedule Bylaws & Platform Committee meetings. The Committee is tasked with drafting airtight amendments for a special convention. Revising the bylaws will ensure future gatherings are insulated from external sabotage.
LP National: 2.40/5 and Righteous Fury Over the Hostile Takeover
LP National’s average score of 2.40 out of 5 reflects deep disillusionment. Two criticisms dominated:
“Keep national politics out of Hawaii business.” Members reject top-down controls that ignore local island realities.
National’s silence during the attempted hostile takeover was “disgraceful.” When out-of-state actors flooded credentialing to block the chair’s re-election and fracture our leadership, LP National offered no support, no investigation, no defense of the duly elected slate. This abandonment violated the spirit (if not the letter) of affiliate sovereignty and left LPHI to fend for itself under RONR’s strict procedural shield, leaving no option but to observe for our (many of them lifetime) members over Zoom.
From Feedback to Action
This anonymized raw data will accompany our next Quarterly Affiliate Report to LP National. We will continue to hold our Bylaws & Platform Committee meetings monthly leading up to a Special Convention by August 2026 at the latest. Every volunteer sign-up has been routed to our coordinators. Member input and activity remain among our greatest assets.
The National Party's involvement in our Hawaii State Convention, either through direct action or subsequent inaction, should come as no surprise to those aware of the LNC's official opinion, which asserts that principles are still binding on affiliates and members, but not on themselves.
We scored 4.87 by standing firm on principle and procedure. LP National must now match that standard. They must uphold affiliate independence, condemning takeover attempts and prioritizing liberty over factional games. We are the Party of Principle. It's time for the LNC to declare it boldly.
Mahalo to every respondent.
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