STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3575

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 56

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 56 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING BUSINESSES IN HAWAII TO USE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO TEACH EMPLOYEES HAWAIIAN AND HIRE PERMANENT HAWAII LANGUAGE TEACHERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:

(1) Businesses in Hawaii to incorporate Hawaiian language in their daily operations;

(2) The Department of Education to develop and implement programs to teach employees Hawaiian; and

(3) The Department of Education to hire permanent Hawaiian language teachers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and three individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian language, also known as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, holds cultural significance and is an integral part of the State's rich heritage. Your Committee further finds that encouraging the use of Hawaiian language in business operations is a positive step toward cultural enrichment and linguistic diversity that will create opportunities for the permanent employment of Hawaiian language teachers. Your Committee believes that businesses in the State, with the assistance of the Department of Education (Department), Hawaiian cultural organizations, and Hawaiian language experts, should incorporate Hawaiian language in their daily operations to ensure that the Hawaiian language will continue to flourish.

Your Committee notes the concern raised in the testimony from the Department that this measure would request the Department to provide educational support and resources for people who are not students, which does not align with the Department's vision and mission. Your Committee also notes that the Department provides Hawaiian language courses through the Community School for Adults at multiple locations, online and in-person.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language requesting the Department to make Hawaiian language courses available at all forty-three public high schools; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 56, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 56, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair