Constitutional convention draws opposition from powerful coalition

SA: …A diverse and powerful coalition made up of unions, businesses and environmentalists (the corporatist power structure) are working together to urge residents to vote ‘no’ in the general election on whether to hold a state constitutional convention.

The coalition, called Preserve Our Hawaii, has registered with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission as a ballot measure committee and can raise and spend unlimited funds in its effort to defeat the measure on Nov. 6.

The coalition includes many of Hawaii’s major unions, such as the Hawaii Government Employees Association, which is the state’s largest, and unions representing public school teachers, police and firefighters. The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Sierra Club of Hawaii and the Hawaii chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union have also joined in the coalition, as has the Hawaii Democratic Party. The party’s state central committee voted unanimously last month to oppose a convention….

read … Constitutional convention draws opposition from powerful coalition

EDITOR's NOTE: The insiders, a who’s who of what’s wrong in Hawaii, have made a handy list of everything from the 1978 Hawaii Constitution that keeps them in power.  Here it is:  

Vote "No" Con Con on the November Ballot

From NoConCon.org, October, 2018

Hawai'i already has a good constitution.

After community discussion, we have concluded there is no urgent need to improve it and therefore no need to hold a Constitutional Convention in 2020. Instead, we need to understand our existing constitution better and give greater life to its ambitious goals and high ideals.

This is the wrong time to open the Con Con door.

The foul winds of PAC money and indiscriminate development would blow in. Native Hawaiian rights, water rights; natural, cultural and environmental protections; agricultural land protections; all would be threatened.

Hawai'i's unique doctrine of Public Trust could be discarded.

‘A‘ole Con Con. Not now. 

What does the current Hawai'i Constitution protect?

What could be lost?

For the benefit of present and future generations, the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals and energy sources …

All public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people.

Article XI Section 1

The State shall have the power to promote and maintain a healthful environment, including the prevention of any excessive demands upon the environment and the State's resources. 

Article IX Section 8

The State and its political subdivisions ... shall plan and manage the growth of the population to protect and preserve the public health and welfare

Article IX Section 6

No nuclear fission power plant ...

Article XI Section 8

The State shall have the power to acquire interests in real property to control future growth, development and land use within the State.  The exercise of such power is deemed to be for a public use and purpose. 

Article XI Section 4

The State shall have the power to manage and control the marine, seabed and other resources located within the boundaries of the State, including the archipelagic waters of the State

Article XI Section 6

Each person has the right to a clean and healthful environment, as defined by laws relating to environmental quality, including control of pollution and conservation, protection and enhancement of natural resources. Any person may enforce this right against any party, public or private ... 

Article XI Section 9

The State shall have the power to  preserve and develop the cultural, creative and traditional arts

​of its various ethnic groups. 

Article IX Section 9

The State shall conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands.  

Article XI Section 3

English and Hawaiian shall be the official languages of Hawaii  

Article XV Section 4

The State reaffirms and shall protect all rights, customarily and traditionally exercised for subsistence, cultural and religious purposes and possessed by ahupua'a tenants   

Article XII Section 7

The State has an obligation to protect, control and regulate the use of Hawaii's water resources for the benefit of its people.

Article XI Section 7

There is hereby established an Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 

Article XII Section 5

The State shall promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history and language.

Article X Section 4

​The lands granted to the State of Hawaii. . . [by the United States at the time of statehood, excluding the Hawaiian Homelands] shall be held by the State as a public trust for native Hawaiians and the general public.

​Article XII Section 4

As a compact with the United States relating to the management and disposition of the Hawaiian home lands, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, shall be adopted as a provision of the constitution of this State . . . .

Article XII Section 3

 . . . The State and its people do further agree and declare that the spirit of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act looking to the continuance of the Hawaiian homes projects for the further rehabilitation of the Hawaiian race shall be faithfully carried out.

Article XII Section 2