The Constitution of the State of Hawaii contains provisions that are carryovers from the time of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Legal requirements founded upon principles of responsibility to care for the land, and the waters of these islands, which reflect a unique worldview, related to the human being’s place (and responsibility) before Nature.

The Constitution States “For the benefit of present and future generations, the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii’s natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals and energy sources, and shall promote the development and utilization of these resources in a manner consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self-sufficiency of the State . . .. All public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people.”

“Each person has the right to a clean and healthful environment, as defined by laws relating to environmental quality, including control of pollution and conservation, protection and enhancement of natural resources. Any person may enforce this right against any party, public or private, through appropriate legal proceedings”

These principles, which grant legally enforceable rights are the keys to eliminating practices which harmful to health of the land and the people. From here in Hawaii, these ethics (fundamental principles) that are the basis of all other laws, are the pivot around which the vital Balance of Nature is preserved for those yet unborn. Practices that harm the land and the waters of Hawaii, or exploit the land in a way that does not promote self-sufficiency are contrary to these fundamental principles of the law.

These ethical principles, which reflect the reverent understanding and Kuleana of the original inhabitants of these islands, today strongly codified in LAW here in Hawaii can not only be a PIVOT POINT for meaningful change here in Hawaii, but a True Light for the illumination, correction, balancing and healing of the world.

Jeffery Bronfman- February 14, 2015