HCR 162: urging the UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO OFFER STUDENTS FROM CERTAIN PACIFIC ISLAND NATIONS A REDUCED TUITION RATE EQUIVALENT TO THE RESIDENT TUITION RATE.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO OFFER STUDENTS FROM CERTAIN PACIFIC ISLAND NATIONS A REDUCED TUITION RATE EQUIVALENT TO THE RESIDENT TUITION RATE.

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii seeks to extend educational opportunities to residents of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region, especially those of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other indigenous ancestry; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii currently offers students from certain Pacific Island districts, commonwealths, territories, or insular jurisdictions, states, or nations which provide no public higher education institution granting baccalaureate degrees a reduced tuition rate equivalent to one hundred and fifty per cent of the resident tuition rate; and

WHEREAS, the list of Pacific Island jurisdictions that qualify for the tuition rate equivalent to one hundred and fifty per cent of the resident tuition rate is updated and distributed by the University President’s Office and currently includes American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Cook Islands, Futuna, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis; and

WHEREAS, members of the Freely Associated States are offered even further reduced tuition rates equivalent to one hundred per cent of the resident tuition rate, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and the Republic of Palau; and

WHEREAS, expanding this reduced tuition rate to include a more comprehensive list of Pacific Island neighbors would allow for even more accessible learning opportunities and higher rates of cross-cultural exchange and collaboration; 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, the University of Hawaii is urged to offer students from certain Pacific Island districts, commonwealths, territories, or insular jurisdictions, states, or nations which provide no public higher education institution granting baccalaureate degrees a reduced tuition rate equivalent to one hundred per cent of the resident tuition rate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Hawaii System.

Report Title: 

Pacific Islands Caucus; University of Hawaii; Tuition