A breakfast meeting scheduled Monday and sponsored by the Maui Chamber of Commerce to discuss the proposed Constitutional Convention was canceled because of lack of interest. A smaller meeting with 20 or so participants was held instead.

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona spoke to the gathering. The lieutenant governor is an ardent supporter of a Con Con and is responsible for the question being on the Nov. 4 ballot.

A group calling itself the Hawaii Alliance is running ads opposed to a Con Con. According to the Pacific Business News, the Hawaii Alliance has collected some $370,000 from The National Education Association Ballot Measure Fund, the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

The ads paint a doom and gloom financial scenario that actually supports the argument for state government reform that only a Constitutional Convention can provide.

Certainly a Con Con is the only hope Neighbor Islands have for obtaining any sort of home rule in education, transportation and health care. That is why the lack of interest in Monday's event is so disappointing.

It is also more than disappointing to see both the state and national teachers' unions fighting the Con Con so vigorously. Certainly nobody is under more fire in Hawaii (and in the country) than our teachers. It's a virtual certainty Maui's teachers would have more support - and money in the classroom - with a local school board than with the current bureaucratic, Oahu-centric system.

Remember, delegates to the Constitutional Convention can only propose amendments to the state constitution. Don't let opponents scare you into thinking that a Con Con could wreck the state. Any proposed amendments that come out of a Con Con must be approved by the electorate. Emphasize "must be approved."

The system is rigged against a Constitutional Convention. A ballot left blank counts as a "No" vote. So, remember to check "Yes."

If you are happy with state government, vote against a Con Con. If you think Hawaii can do better, give the Constitutional Convention a chance to make state government function more for its citizens and less for its bureaucracy.