Constitutional Convention
I was on Union Mall today walking back to Hawaii Pacific University and a tall, distinguished gent with a patrician face that I recognized at once walked past me, his head down. It took a minute to realize that he is someone I've been needing to talk to for months (though I wasn't aware of it). I've been busily promoting the idea of a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) for the Aloha State in 2008, and racking my brain for ideas about the best way to do so. William "Bill" Paty was elected Chairman of the last Con-Con held in Hawaii in 1978. Lehua was a delegate, along with Jeremy Harris (also from Kaua`i) and other luminaries like John Waihee, Carol Fukunaga, and Anthony Chang. One of their singular achievements was the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), which the U.S. Supreme Court has put in jeopardy with recent rulings. I walked back quickly and called to Bill as he was cautiously crossing Hotel Street. I'm guessing he's over 80 now. He greeted me cheerily as I came abreast of him on the sidewalk, and after a brief self introduction he recalled me, and we began sharing recollections and news about our families, etc. After answering his queries about Lehua and my father-in-law, I asked what he thought was the reason that it has been nearly 30 years since the last Con-Con. I was not surprised when he gave a quick answer that had the ring of an oft repeated sound bite. When I asked how he would vote when the question appears on the ballot again this fall, he seemed to realize I'd be likely to quote him and expressed careful but tentative reservations about the concept. However, his attitude changed immediatly when I mentioned my pet issue, and posed a pointed query: "Don't you think a Con-Con would be the ideal body to address death with dignity issues? Wouldn't you like to see the voters given the chance to take a position on their right to make decisions on the end of life issues?" He nodded heartily, turned to look at me directly, and responded, "Yes, that is one idea that I would be happy to see a Con-Con address. And maybe you're right--maybe the voters should get to consider issues like that at another Con-Con, instead of being given all these amendments to vote on piecemeal."
I love serendipity. Now I'm giving even greater consideration to the idea of entering some political race this year, just to call attention to the upcoming vote on whether to hold a Con-Con in 2008.
Post Script (Nov. 12, 2006): As subsequent posts to this blog indicate, I did briefly give notice of an intent to enter the race for the seat vacated by Ed Case. It was fun till the July 23rd deadline arrived for actually filing the nomination petitions (only 25 signatures are needed), but at that point I'd figured out that the powers that be had figured out a way to postpone the vote on a Con-Con till 2008. See my latest post (today) for my current thinking on this subject.
Misha
I love serendipity. Now I'm giving even greater consideration to the idea of entering some political race this year, just to call attention to the upcoming vote on whether to hold a Con-Con in 2008.
Post Script (Nov. 12, 2006): As subsequent posts to this blog indicate, I did briefly give notice of an intent to enter the race for the seat vacated by Ed Case. It was fun till the July 23rd deadline arrived for actually filing the nomination petitions (only 25 signatures are needed), but at that point I'd figured out that the powers that be had figured out a way to postpone the vote on a Con-Con till 2008. See my latest post (today) for my current thinking on this subject.
Misha
posted by kokuaguy at 11:48 PM
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A top member of the Republican Party explained to me why there's been so little information available so far about the upcoming vote of Hawaii's electorate on the issue of whether to have a 2008 Constitutional Convention (Con-Con.) Apparently the Office of Elections ( based on advice from the Attorney General? )has decided that such a question will not be presented to the voters until 2008--that's because of the decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court nearly ten years ago that invalidated the 1996 Con-Con election. Apparently the Supremes felt guilty for doing that, so they let the question go to the ballot again in 1998. This time the voters did not come out for a Con-Con in the same numbers, and the Con-Con was defeated. Counting from the 1998 "re-count" rather than from the original election itself, the Office of elections has determined it has the option to delay the vote by two years. That means a Con-Con will not be held until 2010 at the earliest. This is unfortunate. Those who love the status quo as it is have prevailed once again-- that is, unless some public spirited attorneys take up the people's cause and challenge the decision in the Courts.
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