Const. Art. IX, §10

Safety

Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗

This section honors the ancient law of the splintered paddle, which protects elderly people, women, and children. It gives the State the power to keep people safe from crimes against people and property.

everyone

The constitution, as written — Safety

A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.

The law of the splintered paddle, mamala-hoe kanawai, decreed by Kamehameha I--Let every elderly person, woman and child lie by the roadside in safety--shall be a unique and living symbol of the State's concern for public safety. The State shall have the power to provide for the safety of the people from crimes against persons and property. [Add Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978] Law Journals and Reviews Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe: Equality in Our Splintered Profession. 33 UH L. Rev. 249 (2010).

Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 21, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.