HAWAII voters will have a once-in-a-decade opportunity in November to call for a convention to rewrite the state's Constitution. Proponents of a Constitutional Convention have yet to provide a need for such an overhaul, and the timing of such a gathering would be wrong both politically and economically. Voters should reject a Con Con.

With only 11 of Hawaii's 76 legislative seats, the Republican Party has been unable to push its desired constitutional changes onto the ballot. Most notably, Gov. Linda Lingle's proposal to replace the state's single school district with local boards has been kept from voters.

Other possible issues at a Con Con are land issues, public financing of election candidacies, term limits for legislators, legalized gambling, a unicameral Legislature and initiative and referendum, ad infinitum. Such issues might be worth considering, but an agenda of sorts should be clarified before embarking on a no-holds-barred assembly. The Stop Rail Now organization has shown that a convention is not necessary to challenge decisions by legislative bodies.

A Con Con would not be limited and could serve as a vehicle for fixing problems that don't need repair. For some, it could be a feel-good session for addressing any and all issues they identify as problems.

The notion that direct citizen involvement in political decision-making is ideal suggests that anything less than that is undemocratic. That argument flies in the face of representative democracy, the American norm. If a voter disagrees with his representative, he should vote for his or her defeat in the next election.

Within what we hope will be only a few months, Hawaii might deal with a major change in the political landscape. A bill proposed by Sen. Daniel Akaka to grant Hawaiian sovereignty has stalled in Congress. Democratic nominee Barack Obama, the current favorite in the presidential race, has endorsed the bill, and its enactment appears more likely than ever.

At the same time, Hawaii's state government is trying to cope with major budget problems in the midst of a national financial crisis. The state can't afford to siphon off more than $40 million that would be needed to pay for a Con Con. If and when a convention is needed, it should be provided adequate funding. This is not the time.