Aloha mai kākou,

We are a small group of everyday citizens who love Hawaiʻi and believe deeply in a transparent, accountable government that works for the people. We never set out to file a lawsuit, but when we discovered that a key constitutional protection for public transparency was being ignored, we knew we had to engage the judicial branch’s authority.

Our case, Acasio v. House of Representatives, is about upholding a simple promise written directly into Article III of the Hawaiʻi State Constitution:

“Every meeting of a committee… held for the purpose of making decision on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.”

This provision was designed to protect our collective right to be present when decisions are made. Participating in our own self-governance requires that decisions are not made behind closed doors, but WITH the people at the table.

What Happened

The House of Representativesʻ House Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedure met multiple times in private, without public notice. Decisions on matters referred to this Committee were made behind closed doors, even though the Constitution requires these meetings to occur in public.

This constitutional requirement applies to every committee the legislature establishes, with only two narrow exceptions: Committees dealing primarily with personnel matters and Party caucuses. The Rules Advisory Committee is not one of those exceptions.

Why This Case Matters

When a committee that shapes House procedures and decision-making rules meets behind closed doors, it affects every resident of Hawaiʻi. These rules determine how bills move, how testimony is heard, literally, how democracy functions at the people’s house.

We filed this case to affirm a basic, non-partisan principle: Government works best when its decision making process happens in public. The House of Representatives MUST follow the state constitution, which affirms this same principle.

At significant expense, the Plaintiffs have spent the past year in court and in formal communications with the House, requesting that House leadership acknowledge its failure to require the House Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedure conduct its meetings and decisions in public, redo the process accordingly, and abide by the outcome. Further, we asked the House to agree to instruct its members to hold future meetings of all committees in a manner supporting the spirit, intent and plain language of the state constitution requiring all committee decision making to be conducted in public.

Unfortunately, House Leadership has been reluctant to settle the matter in an amicable manner that honors our state constitution and the right of the public to meaningfully participate. Therefore our next step in the process is to “go to trial” and for this we are requesting your help and support.

Why We Need Your Support

We are encouraged by the public support we have been given over the last twelve months and will see this case through. We are hoping to raise $20,000 to cover the costs of legal fees for our attorneys, filing fees and court-related expenses, research and document preparation and public education so our community understands what’s at stake.

We are everyday people—not a PAC, not a corporation, not a political operation. We are engaged community members doing our part to ensure our constitution is followed by the people who vowed to uphold it.

Your Contribution Helps Protect Open Government

By donating, you help ensure that:

Every contribution, whether itʻs $10 or $1000, makes a real difference. And if you can’t donate, sharing this campaign with your ʻohana and networks is just as meaningful.

We Believe in a Hawaiʻi Where the Public’s Voice Matters

This case is about strengthening our democracy, caring for our island home, and ensuring that the people—not backroom decisions—guide how our government works.

From the bottom of our hearts, mahalo for standing with us. Help us defend Article III of the State Constitution and ensure every decision-making meeting in Hawaiʻi’s House is open to the public.

Mahalo nui for your support,

The Plaintiffs of Acasio v. House of Representatives

Laura Acasio, Kaʻapuni Aiwohi, Sergio J. Alcubilla III, Tanya Aynessazian

Doug Cobeen, Karen Cobeen, Michaela Ikeuchi and Robert H. Pahia