HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

202

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the governor, the office of hawaiian affairs, and the department of hawaiian home lands to organize and convene a conference to begin discussions for a hawaiian constitutional convention.

 

 


 

     WHEREAS, presently, native Hawaiian people do not have a governing entity or organization that represents all native Hawaiians on issues important to the Hawaiian community; and

 

     WHEREAS, a Hawaiian constitutional convention is a process that would ensure political, economic, social, and educational advancement and protection of native Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, native Hawaiian people need time to engage freely, without fear of threat or intimidation, in public debate to discuss the various options of self-governance available to them; and

 

     WHEREAS, Queen Lili`uokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch, said:

 

"The cause of Hawaii and independence is larger and dearer than the life of any man connected with it.  Love of country is deep-seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station."; and

 

     WHEREAS, a conference to begin discussions for a Hawaiian constitutional convention can lay the groundwork for planning, designing, delegating, and commencing a democratic process of deciding native Hawaiian self-governance; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that the Governor, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to organize and convene a conference to begin discussions relating to holding a Hawaiian constitutional convention; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Governor, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, in convening the Hawaii constitutional convention conference, are urged to ensure opportunity for full discussion and consideration of issues critical to the self-governance of the native Hawaiian people, including but not limited to:

 

(1)  A determination of Hawaiian citizenship;

 

(2)  The selection of a governing entity or other political governmental system;

 

(3)  Procedures to resolve conflicts;

 

(4)  Development of a legitimate and effective constitution within the larger United States political framework; and

 

(5)  Hawaiian political cultures and traditions; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are requested to encourage the participation of all Hawaiian organizations, political and social groups, and clubs to the conference so that the native Hawaiian population is well represented; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Chairperson of Hawaiian Homes Commission; and the President of the Association of Hawaiian Civil Clubs who, in turn, is requested to distribute it to all Hawaiian civic clubs and other appropriate social and political organizations.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Hawaiian Constitutional Convention