About Us

“A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia.”

NO TASK IS TOO BIG WHEN DONE TOGETHER BY ALL

Vision

The vision of the PACE Commission is to create, implement, and amplify sustainable programs, resources, and practices that improve place-based, constitutionally informed, and culturally sensitive civic education and engagement in Hawaiʻi schools and communities.

To achieve this vision, the PACE Commission:

• Provides leadership, oversight, and initiatives to increase civic education in the community and schools.
• Provides educational resources for the public about the importance of civic education.
• Maximizes the use of available resources by improving collaboration and coordination among stakeholders.
• Encourages public and private leaders to take leadership roles in expanding civic education.
• Reduces barriers to civic education.
• Increases pro bono contributions by Hawaiʻi attorneys to civic education.

History

In 2006, former Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court gave a speech to the Hawaiʻi Chapter of the American Judicature Society (AJS) focusing on the responsibility of Hawaiʻi’s legal community to improve the public’s knowledge and understanding of how government works and to encourage the public’s participation in it. At the end of his speech, Chief Justice Moon challenged the AJS to help Hawaiʻi’s citizens learn about their government and to actively participate in it in ways that would preserve democratic principles.

The AJS responded to Chief Justice Moon’s challenge by forming the Special Committee on Public Knowledge, Understanding, and Confidence in the Courts (Special Committee). In 2008, the Special Committee issued a report that included several recommendations. One key recommendations was the creation of a Hawaiʻi Institute for Civics Education (HICE). Unfortunately, HICE never materialized.

In 2018, the AJS Committee for Judicial Administration (Judicial Administration Committee) set out to revisit the Recommendations of the Special Committee’s 2008 report. Over two years, Judicial Administration Committee members met with individuals and groups involved with civic education projects across Hawaiʻi. Members also surveyed other states’ civic education efforts. Based on all of this, the Judicial Administration Committee concluded that the best option for creating a long-lasting civic education structure, coordinating the efforts of those already engaged in civic education in Hawaiʻi, and building an even broader statewide engagement, was to create an organization focused on civic education by Hawai‘i Supreme Court rule.

In June 2020, the Judicial Administration Committee, with the support of the AJS Board of Directors, submitted for the Hawai‘i Supreme Court’s consideration a proposed rule to create a Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education. After seeking public comment, the Supreme Court adopted Rule 23 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi on January 7, 2021. The stated purpose of the PACE Commission is “to promote and advance civic education for students and citizens throughout Hawaiʻi.”

Progress