STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1685

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.R. No. 124

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 Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 124 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INTEGRATE THE DOCUMENTARY FILM "WATERMAN" INTO MIDDLE AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL CURRICULUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Board of Education and Department of Education to integrate into the middle and intermediate school curriculum a component that involves the documentary film "Waterman".

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the people of Hawaii descend from a long and storied path of heroes who embody strength, courage, integrity, determination, and humility and have survived tremendous trials by adhering to long-held values of aloha, perseverance, and teamwork. Your Committee further finds that the youth of today have become increasingly unfamiliar with these lessons as they drift farther from the ancient stories and traditional storylines and are instead inundated with modern distractions, such as social media and smartphones, that affect their physical and mental health and cause a shift in whom they idolize and admire.

Your Committee recognizes that a contemporary Hawaiian legend, Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku, was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming, a pioneer in surfing, and the true Hawaiian ambassador of aloha, serving as a role model from which children should derive value. Your Committee notes that the documentary film entitled "Waterman" highlights the life, times, and challenges of Duke Kahanamoku as a young Native Hawaiian immersed in the western world while faithfully retaining his qualities of aloha. Your Committee finds that integrating the film "Waterman" into the middle and intermediate school curriculum and showing the film to students will provide the students with a strong role model and improve their local self‑perception, self-esteem, self-worth, and self-respect.

Your Committee further notes that viewing the film in a theater may result in this initiative failing because of logistical difficulties, expense, and the time that it will take students away from their classroom studies. Your Committee believes that the means of viewing the film should be left up to each school. Your Committee recognizes that the producers of the film will provide the film for free on YouTube.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Department of Education to coordinate with the necessary agencies and stakeholders to provide free access to the film "Waterman" in a format that is accessible to each school, rather than to provide students with transportation to movie theaters to experience the film;

(2) Deleting certain findings; 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 124, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 124, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair