The League of Women Voters of Hawaii and the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs at 6:30 p.m. tonight is holding a debate between proponents and opponents of a state Constitutional Convention — or ConCon for short.

The face-off will be live-streamed on our home page and televised on KGMB9.

Among those scheduled to participate are state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and state Attorney General Mark Bennett.

The idea of a ConCon is to provide an opportunity to propose changes and update the Constitution every 10 years.

The last time Hawai'i held a ConCon was three decades ago, in 1978.

Constitutional Conventions are usually controversial, and this one is no exception.

Labor unions, Native Hawaiian groups, environmentalists and social reformers are afraid gains made by the previous two Constitutional Conventions could be eroded by potential changes to the Constitution.

Conservative groups, the state Republican Party and factions that are dissatisfied with the current Legislature's ability to deal with problems plaguing the state are urging voters to support at ConCon on the Nov. 4 ballot.

According to the Hawai'i state constitution, the document can be amended either through the legislative process or through a convention.

So the Legislature can place amendments before voters or call for a Constitutional Convention.

But if the state Legislature does not call for a convention within a decade, the lieutenant governor has the authority to put the question before voters.

The question on this year's general election ballot asks only whether a convention should be called.

If a majority of all votes cast — including blank and over votes — support a convention, the state Legislature would later determine the number of delegates, when those delegates would be elected, and when a convention would be held. Most analysts believe a convention could be held and any new amendments ratified by voters in 2010.

The Legislative Reference Bureau has estimated that a convention could cost between $6.4 million and $41.7 million. A task force set up by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona estimated a convention would cost less than $10 million.

No single issue or set of issues is behind a convention this year, so the discussion has been mostly philosophical.