1992: The Green Party of Hawai’i qualified for statewide ballot status in May 1992
In Hawai’i in 1992, the qualification criteria for statewide ballot status was to gather a number of petition signers equal to 1% of the number of registered voters in the state as of the last preceding general election. (In 1999, Libertarians in Hawaii successfully persuaded the legislature to lower this threshold from 1%, to one-tenth of 1%.)
In May 1992, the Green Party of Hawai’i submitted over 8,000 signatures of petition signers, surpassing the 4,533 signature threshold needed to qualify as a statewide ballot status party.
VIDEO: Hawaii Green Party qualifies for the ballot 1992 (Hawai’i television news coverage, May 1992) (13:45)
1992: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status in November 1992
To retain ballot status in Hawai’i in 1992, a political party must satisfy at least one of the following four criteria: receive at least 10% in a statewide race; receive 10% of all votes cast in at least fifty percent of the Congressional districts; receive 10% of all votes cast in at least six state senatorial districts with the lowest votes cast for the office of state senator; or receive 10% of all the votes cast in at least fifty percent of all the representatives districts for the office of state representative.
Linda Martin received 13.7% and 49,921 votes for U.S. Senate . This surpassed the 10% needed for the Hawai’i Green Party to retain its ballot status through the 1994 elections.
VIDEO: Hawai’i Green Party election success (Hawai’i television news coverage, November 1992) (8:45)
1994: The Green Party of Hawai’i lost ballot status in November 1994
To retain ballot status in Hawai’i in 1994, a political party must satisfy at least one of the following four criteria: receive at least 10% in a statewide race; receive 10% of all votes cast in at least fifty percent of the Congressional districts; receive 10% of all votes cast in at least six state senatorial districts with the lowest votes cast for the office of state senator; or receive 10% of all the votes cast in at least fifty percent of all the representatives districts for the office of state representative.
None of the six candidates running for partisan office satisfied these criteria, neither individually nor collectively: Kioni Dudley for Governor, Jack Morse for Lietuenant Governor, nor Karen Archibald, Bruce MacPherson, Christopher Walker, and Toni Worst for State House of Representatives.As a result, the Green Party lost / did not extend its ballot status in November 1994.
1996: The Green Party of Hawai’i regained its statewide ballot status in May 1996
In May 1996, the Green Party of Hawai’i submitted over 7,500 signatures of petition signers, surpassing the 4,888 signature threshold needed to retain its statewide ballot status.
1996: The Green Party of Hawai’i lost ballot status in November 1996
Ralph Nader received 2.9% and 10.386 votes for president. His 2.9% was not sufficient to surpass the 10% needed for the Green Party to retain its ballot status.
At the time, Hawai’i state law also provided that if a party successfully petitioned for the ballot three times in a row, it would receive automatic ballot status for ten years. The Hawai’i Green Party had qualified for ballot status three times in a row – twice by petitioning and once by a statewide candidacy.
Unfortunately for Hawai’i Greens, the law’s language specifically referred to ‘petitioning’, rather than ‘qualifying’ for the ballot. Thus Linda Martin‘s 13.7% in 1992 did not count towards the Green Party’s total. On this basis, the Greens were denied ballot status after the November 1996 elections, because they did not retain ballot status by receiving 10% or more in a statewide race.
1997: The Green Party of Hawai’i regained its statewide ballot status
In 1997, the Hawai’i legislature passed a Green-sponsored bill to remedy this situation by changing the wording of the state law from ‘petitioning’ to ‘qualifying’.
After the law’s passage, the issue became whether the law should be applied retroactively to the Green Party. After some debate, the new state elections officer ruled that it did.
With that ruling, the Green Party regained its ballot status through 2006. The only requirement for the Greens during this period is that they run candidates in each election during this period. This same requirement that applies to all ballot status parties in Hawai’i enjoying the ten year exemption. According to the Hawai’i Office of Elections, the ‘Ten Year Provision’ means:
“A political party having first qualified by petition under HRS §11-62 and having been qualified as a political party for three consecutive general elections by petition or meeting the vote requirements of HRS §11-61(b) shall be deemed a qualified political party for the following ten (10) year period, assuming the party continues to field candidates for office.”
1998: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 1998 elections, Ed Schlitt ran for State House of Representatives — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 1996-2006 period.
2000: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2000 elections, Ralph Nader ran for president and Ginny Aste, Jack Kelly and Shaun Stenshol all ran for State House of Representatives — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 1996-2006 period.
2002: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2002 elections, Kahealanikuuleialoha ‘Kahe’ Aipia ran for State Senate and Jack Kelly and Lynn Nakkim ran for State House of Representatives — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 1996-2006 period.
2004: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2004 elections, David Cobb ran for president and Shaun Stenshol ran for State Senate — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 1996-2006 period.
2006: The Green Party of Hawai’i lost statewide ballot status in November 2006
With the end of the Ten Year Provision as of the November 2006 election, to retain ballot status in Hawai’i in 2006, the Green Party must satisfy at least one of the following four criteria: receive at least 10% in a statewide race; receive 10% of all votes cast in at least fifty percent of the Congressional districts; receive 10% of all votes cast in at least six state senatorial districts with the lowest votes cast for the office of state senator; or receive 10% of all the votes cast in at least fifty percent of all the representatives districts for the office of state representative.
None of the three candidates running for partisan office satisfied these criteria, neither individually nor collectively: Jim Brewer for Governor, Renee Ing for Lieutenant Governor, nor Frank DeGiacomo for State House of Representatives. As a result, the Green Party lost / did not extend its ballot status in November 2006.
2008: The Green Party of Hawai’i regained its statewide ballot status
In Hawai’i in 2008, to gain statewide ballot status, a party needed to gain petition signatures, equal to at least one tenth of one percent of the state’s registered voters.
In June 2008, the Green Party of Hawai’i submitted more than twice the 663 valid petition signatures needed to gain ballot status (one tenth of one percent of the state’s registered voters) for two years, under this state law.
2010: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In Hawai’i in 2010, to gain statewide ballot status, a party needed to gain petition signatures, equal to at least one tenth of one percent of the state’s registered voters.
In April 2010 the Green Party of Hawai’i submitted more than twice the 692 valid petition signatures needed to gain ballot status for two years.
2012: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status.
In Hawai’i in 2012 to gain statewide ballot status, a party needed to gain petition signatures, equal to at least one tenth of one percent of the state’s registered voters.
In April 2012 the Green Party of Hawai’i submitted more than twice the 691 valid petition signatures needed to gain ballot status for two years.
At the same time, Hawai’i state law also provided that if a party successfully qualified for the ballot three times in a row, it would receive automatic ballot status for ten years. The Green Party of Hawai’i had qualified for ballot status three times in a row by petitioning — in 2008, 2010 and 2012, giving the party ballot status through the 2022 elections.
According to the Hawai’i Office of Elections, the ‘Ten Year Provision’ means: “A political party having first qualified by petition under HRS §11-62 and having been qualified as a political party for three consecutive general elections by petition or meeting the vote requirements of HRS §11-61(b) shall be deemed a qualified political party for the following ten (10) year period, assuming the party continues to field candidates for office.”
2014: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2014 elections, Keiko Bonk and Cedric Asuega Gates ran for State House of Representatives — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 2012-2022 period.
2016: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2016 elections, Kealoha Pisciotta ran for State Senate and Nick Nikhilananda ran for State House of Representatives — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 2012-2022 period.
2018: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2018 elections, Jim Brewer ran for governor, Renee Ing ran for Lt. Governor, Zachary Burd ran for U.S House of Representatives Melissah Shishido ran for State Senate and Jen Mather and Nick Nikhilananda ran for State House of Representatives — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 2012-2022period.
2020: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2020 elections, Howie Hawkins ran for president — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 2012-2022 period.
2022: The Green Party of Hawai’i retained its statewide ballot status
In November 2022 elections, Emma Jane Pohlman ran for U.S. Senate, Melissah Shishido and Kapono Souza ran for State Senate and Nick Nikhilananda and Summer Starr ran for State House of Representatives — satisfying the Ten Year Provision requirement that in order to retain ballot status, the Green Party field candidates for office during the 2012-2022 period.
2024: The Green Party of Hawai’i regained its statewide ballot status
In Hawai’i in 2024 to gain statewide ballot status, a party needed to gain petition signatures, equal to at least one tenth of one percent of the state’s registered voters.
In February 2024 the Green Party of Hawai’i submitted more than twice the 862 valid petition signatures needed to gain ballot status for two years.
2026: The Green Party of Hawai’i – how it can regain statewide ballot status
In Hawai’i in 2026 to gain statewide ballot status, a party needs to gain petition signatures, equal to at least one tenth of one percent of the state’s registered voters.
The petition must be issued by the Office of Elections and contain 861 signatures of currently registered voters in the State of Hawaii. This constitutes not less than one-tenth of one percent of the total registered voters of the state as of the 2024 General Election.
In the 2024 General Election, there were 860,868 registered voters. The deadline to file the petition is February 19, 2026, 4:30 pm.
