STAR-ADVERTISER FILE / 1978
Nay votes being counted at the Constitutional Convention in 1978. Since the last ConCon, the question of holding another has been on the ballot four times (1986, 1996, 1998, and 2008). Each time the result was negative.
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Hear those sweet siren calls for a Hawaii constitutional convention? We voters ought to beware slick TV and radio ads, because a state constitutional convention represents very little to gain and a lot to lose. Constitutions are not perfect; ours is what it ought to be, comprehensive.
Our beach access, clean water, collective bargaining rights and Native Hawaiian cultural practices — even the employee retirement system — would all be on the block. Who is going to spend thousands of dollars to set up delegates for a multi-day convention? You or I, or big, wealthy special interests? And those corporate interests do not care about us or our challenges in Hawaii.
So it troubles me that pro-ConCon special interests flippantly deny the likely outcome: a constitutional convention would be dominated by groups thousands of miles away.
Dylan P. Armstrong
Manoa
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