1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention facts for kids

The 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention was a very important meeting in the history of modern the State of Hawaii. It started on July 5, 1978. This meeting made many big changes to Hawaii's laws and how its government works.

What Was the Convention?

The 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention was a special gathering of people chosen from all over Hawaii. Their job was to look at the state's main rulebook, called the State Constitution, and decide if any parts needed to be changed or added. It was a chance for the people of Hawaii to update their laws for the future.

Why Was This Convention Important?

This convention is seen as a major turning point for Hawaii. It helped fix some past problems and set up new rules that still affect Hawaii today. The changes made during this meeting were very important for the state's government, its people, and its culture.

Key Decisions Made

The convention made several big decisions that changed Hawaii:

• Limits for Leaders: They set limits on how long state leaders could stay in their jobs. This means people can only serve for a certain number of years.
• Balanced Budget: They added a rule that the state must have a balanced budget every year. This means the government cannot spend more money than it takes in.
• Returning Land: They started the process to return federal land, like the island of Kahoʻolawe, to the state. This was an important step for the people of Hawaii.
• Protecting Privacy: The convention added a special rule to the constitution about privacy. It says that people have a right to privacy, and this right should not be taken away without a very good reason. Hawaii is one of only a few states with such a clear privacy rule in its constitution.

Helping Native Hawaiians

One of the most important things the convention did was create the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. This office was made to help fix problems that native Hawaiians had faced since the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was overthrown in 1893. It works to support and improve the lives of native Hawaiians.

Preserving Hawaiian Culture

The convention also worked hard to protect and celebrate Hawaiian culture. For the first time since the overthrow of the Kingdom, the Hawaiian language became an official state language of Hawaii. They also made sure that Hawaiian special marks (like the ʻokina) would be used officially, and that Hawaiian names would be used correctly.

Future Leaders from the Convention

Many people who were delegates (representatives) at the 1978 convention later became important political leaders in Hawaii. This meeting was a starting point for their careers. Some of these future leaders included:

• Carol Fukunaga, who became a leader in the state legislature.
• Helene Hale, another future legislative leader.
• Jeremy Harris, who later became the Mayor of Honolulu.
• Les Ihara, Jr., who also became a legislative leader.
• Barbara Marumoto, a future leader in the legislature.
• Joseph M. Souki, who became the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
• John David Waiheʻe III, who later became the Governor of Hawaii.