It's your ConCon. What do you want to do with it? Learn - Discuss - Decide

All Blog Posts (47)

The people have decided. Now we need to execute.

One of the characteristics of great companies is that the management team engages in spirited debates over key issues and may fervently disagree with one another but once the CEO makes the decision, everyone falls in line and works together as hard as they can to execute the choice as successfully as possible. This campaign was an amazing experience for me personally as I saw both sides work so hard and so skillfully to put forth their case to the public. It was a great, spirited debate. The “… Continue

Added by Peter Kay on November 5, 2008 at 10:47am — 11 Comments

He Hawaii Au

I may not be eligible to vote, due to the fact that I'm only 13 years of age. However, that doesn't stop me from being who I am, He Hawaii au. As young as I may be, I too want to contribute to the Hawaiian community in ways perpetuating information for generations to come. Continue

Added by Ian on October 28, 2008 at 8:48pm — No Comments

Candidates for state legislature debate ConCon

Here are two more videos about the ConCon debate, this time from the members of, or candidates for, the statehouse. Part one is here: bigislandvideonews.com/20081024debate15.htm Part two is here: bigislandvideonews.com/20081024debate16.htm This was part of a larger statehouse candidate debate held last week in Kona. I hope you find these perspectives intere… Continue

Added by Big Island Video News on October 27, 2008 at 12:05pm — 2 Comments

My email to Hawaii Alliance . org

The reasons that you are giving for voting no on the con-con are fear mongering and without real merit. However, the fact that a blank vote counts as a no vote is the main reason I am encouraging everyone to vote "Yes". The state has decided to take away our freedom of speech by counting blank votes. It has determined that if you do not know enough about the issue to vote on it, the state will decide your vote for you. I did get a kick out out former Governor Arioshi's statement "A Constitution… Continue

Added by Daniel Lovejoy on October 26, 2008 at 9:58am — No Comments

ConCon debate video from Kona

I wanted to share this link with this network, since I think it would be of interest to everyone here. Its from last week, and can be seen here http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/20081021concon.htm on Big Island Video News. The debate is between Mark Spengler (for) and Diane Aoki (against) and is moderated by Sherry Bracken. Enjoy! Continue

Added by Big Island Video News on October 22, 2008 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

Don't Be Conned Out of a Hawaii Con Con

By Sam Slom, (published in Hawaii Reporter, 10/15/2008 11:53:50 AM) Despite irrational scare tactics, entrenched political power brokers, and half a million dollars-plus of out-of-state special interest lobbying money, Hawaii's voters must vote "YES" on the Constitutional Convention ballot question November 4. A YES vote is your only real chance at change and improvement. Nothing is guaranteed except that if ConCon does not pass, no meaningful changes will originate from the State Legislature.… Continue

Added by Malia Zimmerman on October 15, 2008 at 11:59am — No Comments

LIVEBLOG -- KGMB Concon Debate -- 10/14 @ 6:30p

Last nite, our very own Ed and the LG REPRESENTED for the pro side, Colleen H. put up a reasoned response against, and Gary H., frankly, embarrassed himself by spending the complete hour bloviating that our state is teetering on bankruptcy and the [imagined] cost of a concon would be the sole item that pushes us into receivership [!] Tonight, the pro and con sides throw down once more at another local station -- and our very own Della Au Belatti is among the pro participants! Tune in to KGMB9… Continue

Added by Kaunaloa on October 14, 2008 at 3:03pm — 18 Comments

LIVEBLOG for tonight's KHON debate

TONITE -- Monday 10/13 -- 8 p.m. -- a debate on the ConCon ballot question -- tell your friends -- call or E-mail KHON to have your question submitted -- and log in here at 8 to discuss! Continue

Added by Kaunaloa on October 13, 2008 at 4:00pm — 14 Comments

Educate the VOTE, not the Yea/Nay of Con Con

Con Con: Yes or No, Just Vote September 27 2008 My union (HSTA) is recommending we educators vote NO on Con Con, but I’m not writing about that recommendation. I’m mainly concerned that so many citizens don’t know what a Constitutional Convention is. Of those who do, many don’t know what one might look like—what the process would be. And there is broad confusion about issues that might be usefully addressed through a citizens’ caucus like Con Con. This blog is NOT about the last of those—to… Continue

Added by Curtis Muraoka on September 29, 2008 at 10:03pm — No Comments

And so the negative ads begin ...

.... watching the local news a few nights ago [may have been K5 but not 100% sure] and a VOTE NO ON CON CON ad flashes across the screen sponsored by the deceptively innocuous sounding "Hawaii Alliance." As we know, very wealthy entrenched interests will push these sort of ads all the way to November, so I'd like to toss out the question -- How should those who support a Con Con be countering these? What tactics have worked/not worked in the past and thus might serve as a how-to guide? Continue

Added by Kaunaloa on September 24, 2008 at 9:57pm — No Comments

The Next Fifty Years Of Hawaii's Statehood

THIS WEEK, our islands will observe Statehood Day in celebration of Hawaii's decision to become a part of the greater ohana of freedom we call these United States of America. In the forty nine years since the fiftieth star was sown to the deep blue fabric of Old Glory, the face of Hawaii has changed from a sparsely populated comma between East and West into the Pacific Ocean’s exclamation point for urban development. We have developed new attitudes, new traditions, and new lifestyles. We have so… Continue

Added by Daniel de Gracia II on August 9, 2008 at 10:00pm — No Comments

In Opposing A Vote On Rail, Hawaii Democrats Have Forsaken Core Party Values

Earlier this year, scores of Hawaii Democrats rolled on the floor laughing and delighted themselves as the Hawaii Republican Party imploded over their party platform and leaders. As conservative mujahedeen declared political jihad against the party elephant trainers and zookeepers, members of the Hawaii Democratic Party shook their heads and reassured one another, “This type of hypocrisy is precisely why we’re Democrats. We stick together, we are united, and like Obama, we are the voice of the p… Continue

Added by Daniel de Gracia II on July 20, 2008 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

Della’s Question of the Week #8: How many delegates should be elected to a Constitutional Convention?

Turning away from substantive issues, this week’s question is prompted by Lt. Governor Duke Aiona’s ConCon Cost Task Force. At the Task Force’s June 26, 2008, meeting, State Budget and Finance Director Georgina Kawamura’s representative reported on some initial cost projections based on 25, 51, 76, and 102 delegates.

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Added by Della Au Belatti on July 3, 2008 at 7:30am — 13 Comments

Della's Question of the Week #7: Should a citizen’s right to vote be explicitly amended into the Hawaii State Constitution?

This week’s question is prompted, in part, by Governor Linda Lingle’s placement of Senate Bill 156, Conference Draft 1 (2008) on her potential veto list. This bill would allow for permanent absentee voting, an electoral reform that has been championed by many advocates, including AARP Hawaii, as a means to improve access to the ballot, especially for those seniors who take advantage of voting by mail. This question is also prompted by the adoption of a “Resolution Supporting an Amendment to the… Continue

Added by Della Au Belatti on June 24, 2008 at 11:30pm — 1 Comment

Della’s Question of the Week #6: Can a ConCon bring more transparency to and improve the State budget-making process?

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Mo… Continue

Added by Della Au Belatti on June 18, 2008 at 1:30pm — 2 Comments

A ConCon is a shareholder’s meeting

Although my involvement with HawaiiConCon.org is mostly from a technical and perspective, I could not help but try to come up with a “Computer Minute” of what a Constitutional Convention (ConCon) really is and why it is a unique government function. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far and I’d love to get your feedback on it by commenting on my blog at HawaiiConCon.org: A ConCon is very much like a b… Continue

Added by Peter Kay on June 16, 2008 at 8:30pm — 3 Comments

June 12, 2008 Member Update

This week we have a very hot topic related to Della’s question of the week #5 as it relates to addressing Hawaii’s energy needs. Can a ConCon help? Please join this extremely important discussion and give us your input. I hope you’re all enjoying the onset of the summer season. It’s extremely rewarding to see how the HawaiiConCon.org community is maturing. We’re at 150 members strong and growing. New video… Continue

Added by Peter Kay on June 12, 2008 at 10:27pm — No Comments

Della's Question of the Week #5: Can a ConCon address the energy crisis Hawaii is facing?

Now, I know that this post will generate some buzz among you free market folks out there, but I'm going to put this question out anyway. And I hope all you folks out there who worry about climate change, peak oil, and global warming will jump into the fray! This weekend, my husband and I watched 11th Hour, an amazing documentary/call to action when you consider the energy and natural resource challenges we are witnessing all over the worl… Continue

Added by Della Au Belatti on June 11, 2008 at 2:46am — 22 Comments

Forum format changed

Some of you may have noticed that our forums look a little bit different. The layout was changed to be chronological as opposed to threaded. I think this will make them a little easier to follow. Please feel free to leave your feedback comments here. Continue

Added by Peter Kay on June 7, 2008 at 8:03am — 2 Comments

Della's Question of the Week #4: Can a ConCon propose ethics reforms?

We’ve got 23 more questions to go until Election Day 2008. I thought it would be a good time to begin exploring issues - either issues raised here at this website, at other public forums, or in the many discussions I have had with individuals on all things ConCon. Improving ethics in government is one issue that comes up frequently as a reason to have a ConCon.

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Added by Della Au Belatti on June 2, 2008 at 12:42am — 7 Comments