University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu students will have an opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with state legislators at Constitution Day: REAL TALK with Elected Leaders, an event taking place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at UH West O‘ahu’s James & Abigail Campbell Library, second-floor event space.
REAL TALK, presented by the UH West O‘ahu Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR), is among the Constitution Day activities that include on-site voter registration with the League of Women Voters of Hawai‘i, interactive civic and labor literacy games with prize giveaways and closing prize drawings, savory refreshments, and a timeline exhibit of Hawai‘i’s eight constitutions from the Hawaiian Kingdom through statehood.
The activities are hosted by CLEAR, James & Abigail Campbell Library and the UH West O‘ahu Compliance Hui.
At Constitution Day: REAL TALK with Elected Leaders, in a speed-dating style, students have informal conversations with state legislators about civic participation, public policy and the issues that matter to them. The goal of REAL TALK is simple, organizers said: Give students an opportunity to talk directly with their elected leaders, ask questions, share their perspectives and better understand how they can participate in the decisions that affect their lives and communities. A social media series on Hawai‘i’s eight constitutions at @clear_uhwo leads up to a physical Hawai‘i Constitution timeline exhibit and the REAL TALK event.
REAL TALK features the following elected leaders:
- Sen. Samantha DeCorte, Senate District 22: Ko ‘Olina, Nanakuli, Ma‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Makua
- Rep. Trish La Chica, House District 37: portions of Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Koa Ridge, Waipi‘o Gentry
- Sen. Rachele Lamosao, Senate District 19: Pearl City, Waipahu, West Loch Estates, Hono‘uli‘uli, Ho‘opili
- Rep. Ikaika Olds, House District 23: Mō‘ili‘ili, McCully
- Rep. Amy Perruso, House District 46: portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village, Waialua, Mokulē‘ia
“Hawai‘i has had eight constitutions. While workers’ rights expanded over time, actual enforcement of those rights were weak, and voting rights contracted, reflecting the shifting socio-political and economic landscape from the Hawaiian Kingdom through statehood,” said CLEAR Director Dr. Dion Dizon. “On Constitution Day, REAL TALK brings this history to the forefront of students’ minds as they engage with the people who write the state’s laws today and recognize that no elected leader got there without votes. This event connects the dots between constitutional history, labor history and civic engagement.”
Constitution Day: REAL TALK with Elected Leaders is open to all UH West O‘ahu students, faculty and staff, and the general public. Those interested in attending can register online at go.hawaii.edu/RDx. For more information about the event, contact Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) at CLEAR@hawaii.edu or 808-689-2760.
Constitution Day is among the “50 Acts of Pueo Pride” — events highlighted as part of the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu’s 50th anniversary in 2026.
