STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1349

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1430

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1430, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach within the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Ke Kula O Nāwahīokalaniōpuu, Ukwanshin Kabudan, Aha Pūnana Leo, National Coalition of Native American Language Schools and Programs, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii, Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, Kupuna for the Moopuna, and eighty-four individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian Language College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa Astronomy Center are establishing a Hawaiian language medium early education pathway.  The establishment of this pathway has required great agility on behalf of the College and the Center, including in areas such as scheduling courses outside of the University's standard semesters to provide curriculum and instruction to pre-kindergarten to grade twelve institutions and teaching at the College's laboratory school program to fill gaps in instruction.  Your Committees further find that the structure of an institute would allow the College and Center to more effectively respond to these unique needs for the pathway's development.  Therefore, this measure establishes the Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach as a collaboration between the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian Language College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa Astronomy Center to allow the College and Center to more effectively carry out their joint work.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1430, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair

 

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair