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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