The Convention of States Hawaii Team with Mark Meckler. Back Row, left to right: Jack and Donna Van Osdol, Keola Smith, Matt Satterlee, Jake Wilson, Mark Meckler, Mark White, Brett Kulbis, and Mikie Kerr. Front Row, left to right: Rita Kama-Kimura (kneeling), Tarita Tehotu, Steve and Marivic Crain, Kealoha Benevente. Kneeling in front: Emil Svrcina.
Wow, when the President of Convention of States comes to your town you're in for a fantastic visit!
That's what happened October 3-4 as Mark Meckler flew out to the Aloha State for a rousing "Talk Story" Town Hall meeting and fellowship with our Hawaii team.
Kick-off Dinner
Starting with a meal Wednesday night, our team had a delicious, family style event set up by Grassroots Coordinator Brett Kulbis who did a great job getting our team comfortable with Mark and him with us.
Food always helps build relationships in Hawaii!
Standing L to R: Brett Kulbis, Steve Crain, Jake Van Osdol, Marivic Crain, Donna Van Osdol, Mark Whte. Seated L to R: Rita Kama-Kimura, Renatta Svrcina, Emil Svrcina, Mark Meckler, Jake Wilson.
Early Morning Radio Spot
Thursday morning I got Mark to the KHNR AM690 studio for a 22-minute interview with Mike Buck.
Free of notes and without much Convention of States background information, Mike Buck did a good interview, and Mark kept the discussion focused on Article V and our march toward convention. Listen to the interview here.
After a breakfast break and good personal discussion at a local restaurant we met our three neighbor islanders and had some good personal time with them before heading over to The Willows restaurant for the luncheon with the Oahu League of Republican Women.
Lunch with "The League"
Mark's presentation to The "League" was great, as usual. He spoke after three Hawaii candidates, providing a unique focus to the idea of increasing Hawaii's citizen participation and looking at the federal government through the lens provided by Article V.
Neighbor islander team members and U.S. Senate candidate from Kauai Ron Curtis pose with Mark Meckler after a lunch presentation. Left to right: Tim Means (Maui), Jeremy Bento (Kauai) Brett Kulbis, Mark Meckler, Ron Curtis, Mikie Kerr (Big Island), Mark White.
Getting to Know Our Best House Sponsor
Mark and I then made our way to the capitol where we had a great meeting with Rep. Sam Kong our most ardent sponsor in the Hawaii House. Rep. Kong agreed to work with our media team to more broadly endorse Convention of States nationally.
Impromptu Meeting
In lieu of meeting with Hawaii's Christian Coalition in which we'd hoped to put Mark in front of politically active church leaders, Mark and I next visited the GOP headquarters for an impromptu meeting with some pastors (one was a 20-year old candidate for office) set up by District Captain Emil Svrcina.
We certainly encountered some of that activist sentiment, and Mark and I had an inspired exchange with key folks in attendance.
The Main Event
Finally, we arrived at the Oahu Veterans Center where Mark was immediately greeted at the entry by three Hebraic-based messianic believers (native Hawaiians Kealoha Benevente, Keola Smith, and Tarita Tehotu) who gave Mark a Hawaiian protocol welcome and blessing. Mark loved it!
As we stepped inside the large meeting room we could see our first-ever coalition partner table displays were diverse, active, and inspiring.
Six organizations brought their enthusiasm to the event:
- The Oahu League of Republican Women
- Young Republicans
- Hawaii Firearms Coalition
- Marriage and Homeschool Ministries Workshops
- Awakened Dawn Tent America
- David's Tent Hawaii.
Starting with a Hebraic blessing and invocation, the entire night was electric with energy and enthusiasm.
Two short but great sets of comments by one former legislative sponsor (Sen. Sam Slom) and a current sponsor (Rep. Sam Kong) led up to a great impromptu presentation by Mark.
Sen. Sam Slom 
Rep. Sam Kong
Mark Meckler really hit it out of the park with his discussion of America's historic background of self-governance, a broken governmental structure, and Article V's answer—our Founders' gift to We The People.
Mark's presentation and Q&A afterward "hit it out of the park," according to one audience member.
The question-and-answer period that followed had to be ended (as usual) before we got to every question, but the energy and ebullience in the room was palpable.
We had to chase people out at 9pm. Comments like "wonderful event" and "a home run" were heard afterward.
In total, 62 folks attended, doubling last year's crowd size for Tom Coburn.
View Brett Kulbis' Facebook Live stream here.
The entire evening's "Talk Story" event was a huge event and capped off a perfect Convention of States Hawaii day!
Mark's visit ended with an encouraging post-event meal.
