Photos: UH Hilo celebrates 2024 Constitution Day with five days of events

Posted on by

This year’s Constitution Day events aimed to help UH Hilo students and Waiākea High School students understand the importance of active engagement in democracy.

Student holds sign, "Reject Violence."
At an interactive event focused on the subject of the U.S. Constitution held Sept. 19 at the UH Hilo Campus Center Plaza, a student shares her chosen most important civic obligation, “Reject Violence.” (Photo courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo)

By Susan Enright.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo celebrated 2024 Constitution Day during five days of events Sept. 16-20. The federally recognized day, Sept. 17,  observes the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Su-Mi Lee pictured
Su-Mi Lee (File photo)

“This year’s Constitution Day events aimed to help UH Hilo students and Waiākea High School students understand the importance of active engagement in democracy, familiarize them with civil obligations, and provide ways for them to contribute to the community,” says Professor of Political Science Su-Mi Lee, head organizer of the annual celebration.

This yearʻs events were coordinated by the UH Hilo Department of Political Science with support from the College of Arts and Sciences. Activities were organized by the university’s Political Science Club along with the Department of Sociology, the Mookini Library, the Office of International Student Services, and the student newspaper Ke Kalahea. Community collaborators were from the League of Women Voters, Zonta Club of Hilo, and the Rotary Club of South Hilo.

Exhibition at Mookini Library

During the week, there was a display of materials about the U.S. Constitution, democracy, and civic engagement on exhibit at Mookini Library.

The exhibition cart was put together by Librarian Lari-Anne Au and contained materials related to the U.S. Constitution, democracy, and civic obligations and engagement.

Interactive event at Campus Center Plaza: Share your most important civic obligation and register to vote!

An interactive event was held at the Campus Center Plaza on Thursday, Sept. 19, where students could take quizzes to test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the Founding Fathers; share their most important civic obligation and most important local issue and pledge to take action; and register to vote. Free pocket Constitutions were given away.

“We had three stations set up on the Campus Center Plaza, and about 120 people participated in the event,” says Lee.

Joining UH Hilo faculty and students was Lisa Tada, a social studies teacher at Waiākea High School, who brought 27 of her students to campus to learn about the Constitution. The group visited the library to view the exhibition and participated in the interactive event on the Campus Center Plaza.

Large group gathered for photo; professor and officials at front seated at table, students in back standing in several rows.
Faculty, students, and community organizers and participants of an interactive event on the U.S. Constitution gather for photo on Sept. 19 on the Campus Center Plaza at UH Hilo. In the front row, from left, are political science professors Sarah Marusek and Su-Mi Lee, political science major Misty Cruden and Brad Clark from the League of Women Voters, and sociology professor Lindy Hern. (Photo by Lisa Tada)

At the Civic Obligation Pledge Desk, students were asked to choose the most important civic obligations for democracy to survive and thrive from the following list:

  1. Be informed
  2. Get involved
  3. Stay open to compromise
  4. Remain civil
  5. Reject violence
  6. Value norms
  7. Promote the common good
  8. Respect government service
  9. Support the teaching of civics
  10. Put country first

After making their selection, students were invited to pose for a photo with a sign representing their chosen obligation. Here is a sampling of signs (photos courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo):

At the two Constitution Quiz stations, there were portable smart boards where students could answer 10 questions about the U.S. Constitution.

“The students received their scores at the end, along with explanations for any questions they got wrong,” says Lee. “This segment was very engaging, with a line forming to take the quizzes.”

Students look at large screen.
Students stand rapt at the Constitution Quiz station. (Photo courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo)
Two students face camera with large computer screen in background.
Two students at the Constitutional Quiz station. (Photo courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo)

At the Voter Registration table, members of the League of Women Voters provided voter registration forms and information on elections. “They encouraged students to register to vote and also offered additional information to out-of-state students,” says Lee.

Two people at the voter registration table.
At the Voter Registration table are from left, political science major Misty Cruden and Brad Clark from the League of Women Voters. (Photos courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo)

Panel discussion and presentations on civic obligations

On Friday evening, a panel of experts and students talked about the importance of civic engagement and obligations around the world. The public forum focused on the importance of promoting public goods, meaning active involvement in civic obligations, in democracy.

Panelists were Assistant Professor of Sociology Ellen Meiser on food security; Zonta Club of Hiloʻs Julie Tulang on women’s rights; Emeritus Professor of Education Nina Buchanan from the League of Women Voters on voting rights; and former Hawaiʻi County Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi from the Rotary Club of South Hilo on peace.

The forum was moderated by student Amaya Hirata, president of the UH Hilo Political Science Club.

Group gathers for photo on the plaza.
Experts and students who participated in a panel discussion and poster presentations on Sept. 20, are from left Julie Tulang from Zonta Club of Hilo; Nina Buchanan from the League of Women Voters; political science major and moderator of the panel Amaya Hirata; poli-sci majors and presenters from the Marshall Islands, Mellanwut Kaiko, Tamelia Rang, and Ronna Nakamura; poli-sci major and presenter from Yap, Mercy Gilniy; in back, sociology professor Ellen Meiser; and Charlene Iboshi from the Rotary Club of South Hilo. (Photo courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo)
Several people at head table for panel.
Panel of experts talks about the importance of civic engagement and obligations around the world. From left, moderator Amaya Hirata, with experts Julie Tulang, Ellen Meiser, Nina Buchanan, and Charlene Iboshi. (Photo courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo)
Charlene Iboshi speaks to students.
Former Hawaiʻi County Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi from the Rotary Club of South Hilo presents the Rotary’s Peace Project work to the group. (Photo courtesy of Dept. of Political Science/UH Hilo)

In addition to the panel, four UH Hilo international students gave presentations on civic engagement in their countries.

Political science majors from the Marshall Islands — Ronna Nakamura, Tamelia Rang, and Mellanwut Kaiko — discussed efforts by non-governmental organizations to educate the public and promote public goods.

Political science major Mercy Gilniy, who is from Yap and serves as a senator-at-large for the UH Hilo Student Association, spoke about a recent food system summit encouraging community participation.

Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

Share this story