Curriculum: Exploring Constitutional Change and Civic Action in Hawaiʻi

We offer two inquiry-based lessons that align with the Hawaiʻi Core Standards in Social Studies to help students connect Hawaiʻi’s past to its present. Through the lens of the 1978 Constitutional Convention and the grassroots activism of the 1970s, students explore how civic engagement shaped—and continues to shape—governance, identity, and policy in Hawaiʻi.

Constitutional Convention in Modern Hawaiʻi

Analyzing the Sociopolitical Impact of the Hawaiian Renaissance

HCSSS Content Standard SS.MHH.4.19.2

Students will investigate key issues debated during the 1978 Constitutional Convention and will analyze their modern relevance. Through a Gallery Walk activity, students will explore the sociopolitical impact of the Hawaiian Renaissance on Hawai‘i’s governance and society, building on prior instruction about its causes.

Civic Action and Citizen Voice

Investigating Civic Action in Hawai‘i’s Past

HCSSS Content Standard SS.PID.5.7.1

Students will explore historical grassroots movements such as Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana and Hawaiian cultural advocacy. Drawing lessons from the past, they will develop and present civic strategies to address current issues in Hawaiʻi using both traditional and digital tools.