HCR 125: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PRIORITIZE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT "HALAU O KAWAIHUELANI".

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PRIORITIZE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT "HALAU O KAWAIHUELANI".

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

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education supports Hawaiian Language fluency among students in grades kindergarten through twelve in Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion schools across the State, which require teachers to be fluent in the Hawaiian language; and

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii's strategic plan identifies the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a "Hawaiian Place of Learning" and an indigenous serving institution; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language is an academic department in the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center enrolled over eighty undergraduate majors and graduate students during the 2024-2025 academic year, and currently teaches nearly one thousand students every semester in introductory and intermediate language courses, as well as general education foundation courses; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center and its sister center, the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, collectively enroll more than four thousand students each academic year in required general education, Hawaiian, and second language courses; and

     WHEREAS, the growth of Hawaiian language fluency has led to a significant rise in Hawaiian language performances in theater and music, and scholarly publications in Hawaiian, as well as research that relies upon Hawaiian language fluency for certain fields in science, social sciences, and the humanities; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center and Kamakakūokalani Center have been authorized to plan a joint Doctor of Philosophy degree program in ʻIke Kūpuna (Hawaiian Knowledge), which would require graduate-level Hawaiian language fluency; and

     WHEREAS, the need for Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies has led to a significant growth in permanent faculty in both programs; and

     WHEREAS, the Kamakakūokalani Center has housed its faculty and programs in the Kamakakūokalani building at the far eastern end of the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, nearly one-half mile from the Kawaihuelani Center and the offices of the Dean of the Hawaiʻinuiākea School, which are located on the second floor of Spalding Hall; and

     WHEREAS, because Spalding Hall is shared by the Dean and staff of the Hawaiʻinuiākea School; Kawaihuelani Center; and Indo Pacific Languages and Graduate Division of the College of Arts, Languages and Letters; there is no room for expansion to accommodate both the current and the projected permanent staff and faculty of the Kawaihuelani Center; and

     WHEREAS, this physical separation has not been conducive to program collaboration and curricular innovation; 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 University of Hawaii is requested to prioritize a capital improvement project to construct "Halau o Kawaihuelani", which is envisioned as an office and classroom building to accommodate the Hawaiʻinuiākea School's Dean and staff; the Kawaihuelani Center's faculty and staff; Hawaiian language classes; and a performing arts facility that provides a center for Hawaiian music, dance, and theater; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, President of the University of Hawaii, Provost of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Dean of the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Director of the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, and Director of the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Hawaiʻinuiākea School; Hawaiian Knowledge

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PRIORITIZE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT "HALAU O KAWAIHUELANI".

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

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education supports Hawaiian Language fluency among students in grades kindergarten through twelve in Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion schools across the State, which require teachers who are fluent in the Hawaiian language; and

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii's strategic plan identifies the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a "Hawaiian Place of Learning" and an indigenous serving institution; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language is an academic department in the Hawai`inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center enrolled over eighty undergraduate majors and graduate students during the 2024-2025 academic year, and currently teaches nearly one thousand students every semester in introductory and intermediate language courses, as well as general education foundation courses; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani and its sister center, the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, collectively enroll more than four thousand students each academic year in required general education, Hawaiian, and second language courses; and

     WHEREAS, the growth of Hawaiian language fluency has led to a significant rise in Hawaiian language performances in theater and music, and scholarly publications in Hawaiian, as well as research that relies upon Hawaiian language fluency for certain fields in science, social sciences, and the humanities; and

     WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center and the Kamakakūokalani Center have been authorized to plan a joint Doctor of Philosophy degree program in `Ike Kūpuna (Hawaiian Knowledge), which would require graduate-level Hawaiian language fluency; and

     WHEREAS, the need for Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies has led to a significant growth in permanent faculty in both programs; and

     WHEREAS, the Kamakakūokalani Center has housed its faculty and programs in the Kamakakūokalani building at the far eastern end of the Manoa campus, nearly one-half mile from the Kawaihuelani Center and the offices of the Dean of the Hawai`inuiākea School, which are located on the second floor of Spalding Hall; and

     WHEREAS, because Spalding Hall is shared by the Dean and staff of the Hawai`inuiākea School; the Kawaihuelani Center; and the Indo Pacific Languages and Graduate Division of the College of Arts, Languages and Letters; there is no room for expansion to accommodate both the current and the projected permanent staff and faculty of the Kawaihuelani Center; and

     WHEREAS, this physical separation has not been conducive to program collaboration and curricular innovation; 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 University of Hawaii is requested to prioritize a capital improvement project to construct "Halau o Kawaihuelani", which is envisioned as an office and classroom building to accommodate the Hawai`inuiākea School's Dean and staff; the Kawaihuelani Center's faculty and staff; Hawaiian language classes; and a performing arts facility that provides a center for Hawaiian music, dance and theater; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, President of the University of Hawaii, Provost of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Dean of the Hawai`inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Director of the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, and Director of the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Hawai`inuiākea School; Hawaiian Knowledge

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1806

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 125

      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 Finance, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 125, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PRIORITIZE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT "HALAU O KAWAIHUELANI","

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to prioritize a capital improvement project to construct "Halau O Kawaihuelani."

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 125, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1567

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 125

      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. 125 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PRIORITIZE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT "HALAU O KAWAIHUELANI","

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to to prioritize a capital improvement project to construct "Halau o Kawaihuelani".

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

     Your Committee finds that the Kawaihuelani Center and its sister center, the Kamakakūokalani Center, offer a wide range of learning opportunities for the Hawaiian language and culture.  As fluency of the Hawaiian language grows, more interest from students can lead to increased activity, including additional faculty, at the Kawaihuelani Center and Kamakakūokalani Center.  However, the present locations of the the Kawaihuelani Center and Kamakakūokalani Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which is nearly one-half mile from each other, and limited capacity of each Center to house staff and faculty hinders program collaboration and curricular innovation.  Your Committee believes that the construction of the Halau o Kawaihuelani will be able to accommodate both programs and a multitude of services and facilities that will promote the Hawaiian language and culture.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 125, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 125, H.D. 1.

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