HCR 124: ENCOURAGING THE KAWAIHUELANI CENTER FOR HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO FURTHER PROVIDE LEARNING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE KAWAIHUELANI CENTER FOR HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO FURTHER PROVIDE LEARNING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

     WHEREAS, article XV, section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution recognizes both Hawaiian and English as the official languages of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education supports Hawaiian language fluency through Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion schools across the State; and

     WHEREAS, Kamehameha III established the first public education system in the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1840, making ʻOlelo Hawaii the first and only language of instruction at the time; and

     WHEREAS, the Republic of Hawaii passed section 30 of Act 57 in 1896, which made English the medium and basis of instruction for all public schools and private schools, effectively removing Olelo Hawaii from the classroom and the school system; and

     WHEREAS, children who spoke ʻOlelo Hawaii in school were verbally and physically reprimanded and made to feel ashamed of their native tongue; and

     WHEREAS, a group of Hawaiian language educators established the Punana Leo Preschool in 1984 to provide an immersive experience for preschool-aged children and their families to learn ʻOlelo Hawaii and adopt the language as their primary means of communication; and

     WHEREAS, section 30 of Act 57 was repealed in 1986, allowing for the establishment of the first Kula Kaiapuni in 1987; and

     WHEREAS, although the growing participation in Kaiapuni education has been unmatched, the Kula Kaiapuni face struggles, such as teacher shortages, insufficient facilities, and limited support for curriculum development; and

     WHEREAS, Kaiapuni students and their families encounter limited access to activities, materials, and learning opportunities that they can do together to promote use of ʻOlelo Hawaii in the home; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa strives to revitalize Hawaiian language and culture through quality Hawaiian education by creating and providing materials, curricula, and resources that promote the use of Hawaiian; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa created and implemented the I Hoa na Moolelo Project in 2021 to publish a quarterly children's magazine written in the Hawaiian language, for the enjoyment of Kaiapuni and charter school students in grades 2-6 on Oahu; and

     WHEREAS, this body recognizes the value and importance of the practice and preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, through its I Hoa na Moolelo Project, is encouraged to provide Kaiapuni students and families with Hawaiian language and literacy resources and to create opportunities for ʻOlelo Hawaii to flourish in homes and communities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Report Title: 

University of Hawaii; Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language; I Hoa Na Moolelo

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE KAWAIHUELANI CENTER FOR HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO FURTHER PROVIDE LEARNING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

WHEREAS, Article XV, section 4 of the State Constitution recognizes both Hawaiian and English as the official languages of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education supports Hawaiian language fluency through Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion schools across the State; and

     WHEREAS, Kamehameha III established the first public education system in the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1840, making Olelo Hawaii the first and only language of instruction at the time; and

     WHEREAS, the Republic of Hawaii passed section 30 of Act 57 in 1896, which made English the medium and basis of instruction for all public and private schools, effectively removing Olelo Hawaii from the classroom and the school system; and

     WHEREAS, children who spoke Olelo Hawaii in school were verbally and physically reprimanded and made to feel ashamed of their native tongue; and

     WHEREAS, a group of Hawaiian language educators established the Punana Leo Preschool in 1984 to provide an immersive experience for preschool-aged children and their families to learn Olelo Hawaii and adopt it as their primary means of communication; and

     WHEREAS, section 30 of Act 57 was repealed in 1986, allowing for the establishment of the first Kula Kaiapuni in 1987; and

     WHEREAS, although the growing participation in Kaiapuni education has been unmatched, Kula Kaiapuni face struggles, such as teacher shortages, insufficient facilities, and limited support for curriculum development; and

     WHEREAS, Kaiapuni students and their families encounter limited access to activities, materials, and learning opportunities that they can do together to promote use of Olelo Hawaii in the home; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa strives to revitalize Hawaiian language and culture through quality Hawaiian education by creating and providing faculty, materials, curricula, and resources that promote the use of Hawaiian; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa created and implemented the I Hoa na Moolelo Project in 2021 to publish a quarterly children's magazine written in the Hawaiian language, for the enjoyment of Kaiapuni and charter school students in grades 2-6 on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the value and importance of the practice and preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, through its I Hoa na Moolelo Project, is encouraged to provide Kaiapuni students and families with Hawaiian language and literacy resources and to create opportunities for Olelo Hawaii to flourish in homes and communities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Report Title: 

University of Hawaii; Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language; I Hoa Na Moolelo

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1864

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 124

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 124, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE KAWAIHUELANI CENTER FOR HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO FURTHER PROVIDE LEARNING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is that the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, through its I Hoa na Moolelo Project, is encouraged to provide Kaiapuni students and families with Hawaiian language and literacy resources and to create opportunities for ‘Olelo Hawaii to flourish in homes and communities.

 Your Committee received testimony in support for this measure from one individual.   

Your Committee finds that promoting the Hawaiian language and culture is essential for preserving Hawaii's heritage and identity. Encouraging the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language to expand learning resources and opportunities strengthens cultural understanding and ensures the revitalization of the Hawaiian language.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 124, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1579

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 124

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 124 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE KAWAIHUELANI CENTER FOR HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO FURTHER PROVIDE LEARNING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to encourage the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, through its I Hoa na Moolelo Project, to further provide learning resources and opportunities that promote Hawaiian language and culture.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Education supports Hawaiian language fluency through Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion schools across Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that Kaiapuni students and their families encounter limited access to activities, materials, and learning opportunities that they can engage in together to promote use of ʻOlelo Hawaii in their homes.

     Your Committee notes that the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa strives to revitalize Hawaiian language and culture through quality Hawaiian education by creating and providing materials, curricula, and resources that promote the use of the Hawaiian language.  As part of its outreach, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language created and implemented the I Hoa na Moolelo Project in 2021 to publish a quarterly children's magazine written in the Hawaiian language, for the enjoyment of Kaiapuni and charter school students in grades 2-6 on Oahu.  Your Committee recognizes the success of the I Hoa na Moolelo Project and believes that the Project should be extended to provide all Kaiapuni students and families with Hawaiian language and literacy resources and create opportunities for ʻOlelo Hawaii to flourish in homes and communities.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that a certified copy of this measure is to be transmitted to the Director of the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 124, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 124, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,