Ka Papahana Hoʻomalu: An Overview of Parliamentary Procedure in Hawaiian History

ʻO nā hana o nā hālāwai a pau o ka Hui a me ka ʻAha Hoʻokō e alakaʻi ʻia nō ia e nā rula o nā anaina maikaʻi, a me nā rula maʻa mau o nā ʻAhaʻōlelo.

—Ka Hui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina. (4 Malaki 1893). Kumukānāwai, Paukū 8, Haʻawina 3. Honolulu, Oʻahu, Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina

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​All proceedings of meetings of the League and of the Executive Council shall be governed by the usual decorum and rules of Parliamentary Usage.

—Hawaiian Patriotic League. (4 March 1893). Constitution, Article 8, Section 3. Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands

​The following presentation was given by Keokani Kipona Marciel, credentialed parliamentarian, at the Annual Convention of Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina (Hawaiian Patriotic League), Saturday, August 5th, 2017, at the Kanaʻina Building, ʻIolani Palace, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina, Aupuni Hawaiʻi. The presentation was filmed by C. Piʻikea Keawekane-Stafford.

Title Slide

Keokani Kipona Marciel, MS, became a Registered Parliamentarian (RP) on November 11, 2016, then a Professional Registered Parliamentarian (PRP) on September 27, 2017, accredited by the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP). Keokani is also a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP).

ʻO nā hālāwai a pau a ka Hui a me ka ke Kōmite Hoʻoponopono, e alakaʻi ʻia nō ia e nā rula o nā anaina maikaʻi a me nā rula maʻa mau o nā ʻAhaʻōlelo.

—Ka Hui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina a me Kūʻokoʻa a nā Lede. (27 Malaki 1893). Kumukānāwai, Paukū 7, Haʻawina 3. Honolulu, Oʻahu, Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina

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All proceedings of meetings of the Association and of the Managing Committee shall be governed by the usual quorum and rules of similar associations.

—Ladies Hawaiian Patriotic and Independent League. (27 March 1893). Constitution, Article 7, Section 3. Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands

Video

Keokani is a great-great grandson of Loke Kaʻilikea (4/17/1857 - 1/10/1914) of Kaupō, Maui, who signed on the historic Petition Against Annexation, in Hāna, Maui, in 1897, which defeated the proposed treaty of annexation to unlawfully seize the Hawaiian Islands, in the United States Senate, in 1898.

​Inā makemake kekahi e ʻōlelo, e ku nō ia i luna a e hoʻokūpono i kāna ʻōlelo i ka Pelekikena a e kamaʻilio kūpono ʻo ia ma ka mea e hoʻopāpā ʻia ana, ʻaʻole hoʻi ʻōlelo kūamuamu no ko kekahi kanaka ponoʻī, a pau kāna ʻōlelo, e noho ia i lalo.”

When any member is about to speak, he shall rise from his seat and respectfully address himself to “Mr. President,” and shall confine himself to the question under debate, and avoid personality. As soon as he has done speaking, he shall sit down.

​—Nā Rula, House of Nobles of the Hawaiian Kingdom (1854, 2nd Printing), Rule 26

Transcript

Ka_Papa_Hana_Hoomalu_2017-08-05_Transcript.pdf

Parliamentary procedure should not be used to awe, entangle, or confuse the uninitiated. The rules should be used only to the extent necessary to observe the law, to expedite business, to avoid confusion, and to protect the rights of members.

--American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, p. 7

Handout

​Ka_Papa_Hana_Hoomalu_2017-08-05_Handout.pdf

Assemblies with 13 or fewer members in attendance almost invariably conduct business informally. Those with more than 13 members present are supposed to conduct business formally. But they may conduct all their proceedings and transact business either way, regardless of the number of members present, if no objection is made.

--Demeter’s Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, 1969, p. 284

Endnotes

​Correction for Slide 20/36: A two-thirds vote is required to designate a business item as a special order. Therefore, a bylaw requirement cannot automatically become a special order without a two-thirds vote, unless a special rule of order prescribes otherwise.