From the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, Hawaii:

He Huliau ia no Hawaii: The Role of Constitutional Conventions in Hawaii

 

Saturday, November 8, 2014 9:00 AM until Saturday, November 15, 2014 2:30 PM

Since 1840, the governance of Hawaii has been defined by a source document – a constitution.  For over a hundred seventy years, the changing of our Constitution has reflected the aspirations, fears, courage, and resiliency of Hawaii's people.  Over the course of two Saturdays in November, the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center will provide high school and middle school Social Studies teachers of Hawaii an opportunity to explore the mechanics of constitutional change.
 

• How has local reaction to socio-political forces, from within and abroad, affected Hawaii's constitutions?
• In 2018, Hawaii's voters will decide whether or not to convene a state constitutional convention.  What arguments can be made, for and against, a possible constitutional convention?

Nana i ka wa mamua
Saturday, November 8, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In order to understand our current situation and seek the right path going forward, we must look to the time before us. The workshop begins with presentations defining constitutional governance, and exploring Hawaii's constitutions of past along with their historical context.  The day concludes with focus on Hawaii's 1978 Constitutional Convention, a watershed moment in Hawaii's constitutional history.

1978 and Beyond:  Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono
Saturday, November 15, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Every ten years, Hawaii's voters have the opportunity to vote to convene a Constitutional Convention.  The last "Con Con" in Hawaii was held in 1978, resulting in amendments to our state constitution that created the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, declared Olelo Hawaii an official language, provided protections for Hawaii's fragile environment, and affirmed our state's commitment to women's rights.  This session begins with a panel of delegates who participated in the historic 1978 Constitutional Convention.  Next we explore a range of “hot button” issues that might influence votes for or against future constitutional convention.  The day concludes with teaching strategies for the classroom.