- Source: 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention
The 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention is considered the watershed political event in the modern State of Hawaii. It was convened on July 5, 1978. The convention established term limits for state office holders, provided a requirement for an annual balanced budget, laid the groundwork for the return of federal land such as the island of Kahoʻolawe, and created the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in an effort to right the wrongs done towards native Hawaiians since the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1893. The event also created an ambitious project of preservation of the Hawaiian culture including the adoption of Hawaiian diacritical marks for official usage, use of Hawaiian names, etc. The Hawaiian language became the official state language of Hawaii for the first time since the overthrow.
Based upon language the US Supreme Court had used to legalize abortion and birth control, the convention added the text: "the right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed without the showing of a compelling state interest." This text makes the state constitution one of only five in the US that explicitly define a right to privacy.
Political legacy
A major outgrowth of the constitutional convention was the launching of the political careers of those who would later dominate Hawaiian politics. Delegates to the convention included:
Carol Fukunaga, future legislative leader
Helene Hale, future legislative leader
Jeremy Harris, future Mayor of Honolulu
Les Ihara, Jr., future legislative leader
Barbara Marumoto, future legislative leader
Joseph M. Souki, future Speaker of the House
John David Waiheʻe III, future Governor
Charlene Hoe, Windward Oʻahu delegate and founder of Hakipuʻu Learning Center
References
External links
Proceedings of the 1978 Constitutional Convention - Volume I
Proceedings of the 1978 Constitutional Convention - Volume II
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Daftar county di Hawaii
- 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention
- Constitution of Hawaii
- Office of Hawaiian Affairs
- 1978 in Hawaii
- Jeremy Harris (politician)
- Charlene Hoe
- Hawaii House of Representatives
- Native Hawaiians
- Index of Hawaii-related articles
- Constituent assembly