STAND. COM. REP. NO. 134

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1430

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1430 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish an Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach within the University of Hawaii at Hilo through a collaboration between the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa Astronomy Center and University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian language college.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Ukwanshin Kabudan, Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Iki, ‘Aha Pūnana Leo, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the development of Hawaiian language proficiency is creating a bottleneck in the development of Hawaiian language medium early education teachers. An institute model would allow for year-round scheduling flexibility and help to reduce the teacher shortage, expand the collective reach and potential to address the State's Hawaiian language needs, and serve the distinct needs of indigenous peoples and marginalized groups.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a finding that this measure addresses an issue of statewide concern;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1430, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1430, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair