STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3138

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2171

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2171, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the University of Hawaii to engage in enterprise-related activities for educational purposes exempt from certain county zoning requirements, under certain circumstances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii's teaching laboratories, including teaching hotels and culinary centers, facilitate experiential learning that is essential to workforce preparation. The development of facilities for these instructional training programs, however, is often delayed by county-level zoning regulations intended for commercial operations. This measure supports the University of Hawaii's ability to rapidly respond to changing workforce priorities while maintaining safety standards in instructional facilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2171, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2171, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair