The Na‘i Aupuni constitutional convention began Monday with 127 Native Hawaiians gathering at the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club in Maunawili.

The first day of the four-week assembly to consider proposals for Native Hawaiian governance featured protesters at the golf club entrance, a few interruptions, a bit of drama and a presentation by constitutional expert Zachary Elkins, a University of Texas associate professor.

Although the proceeding took place behind closed doors, Elkins’ talk was televised by Olelo Community Media, and a few of the participants offered a glimpse of the action in posts and videos on social media:

>> Former Na‘i Aupuni candidate Walter Ritte tried to talk his way into the hall, saying he wanted to be an observer, but he was ultimately ushered out.

>> Later, a man and a woman burst into the hall, chanting in Hawaiian. The woman chastised the group, saying, among other things, “What the hell is wrong with our people?”

>> Earlier, veteran Hawaiian activist Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele offered a motion on the floor to reclaim “our national identity.” There were shouts of support before University of Hawaii professor Lilikala Kame‘eleihiwa asked if that “national identity” includes only Native Hawaiians, because that’s what she wants. Pandemonium erupted until Na‘i Aupuni staff members stepped in to quiet things down.

“We are clearly a divided group here (we knew this),” Mililani participant Zuri Aki posted on his public Facebook account. “Day 1, we’ve got a lot of work to do to achieve near-consensus on something.”

Meanwhile a handful of protesters stood at the entrance to the country club, hanging two effigies to signify the death of Hawaiian rights, including the right to control millions of acres of Hawaiian lands and the right to self-determination without U.S. involvement.

Protesters claimed the Na‘i Aupuni convention is rigged to ensure federal recognition by the U.S. government. In doing so, they say, a puppet government will be installed to undercut the independence movement and seize the ceded, or Hawaiian crown, lands.

“The Aha convention clearly does not represent the voices of Hawaii’s citizens in general nor of Native Hawaiians in particular,” Kelii Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said in a statement.

Monday’s convention attendance represents about 85 percent of the 151 or so former candidates who agreed to join the historic gathering. A planned election of delegates was canceled in December to avoid potential violations of law covering public activities.

Elkins, the Texas professor, told the group that the average length of time for writing a constitution is about a year and a half, from beginning to ratification.

But he didn’t offer any discouraging words about whether this convention could put together a governing document by the end of the month.

“Let’s face it, you can write a constitution in one night. And you can certainly do it in 20 days,” he said.

Elkins said it’s customary for constitutions to be written with input from the public. In Iceland, he said, the proceedings were streamed live and reviewed each day on a Facebook website, where citizens could comment.

By contrast, in 1787 a group of colonial delegates drafted the U.S. Constitution behind closed doors in Philadelphia to avoid outside pressures, he said.

Today’s morning session will feature Arizona State University law professor Rebecca Tsosie, who will speak on federal Indian law and federal recognition.

Scheduled in the afternoon are discussions on rules, committee leadership criteria and governance issues and models.