STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3871

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 122

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 122 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ALLOW AN OLELO HAWAII PATHWAY UNDER THE NIIHAU DIALECT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to allow an Olelo Hawaii Pathway concentrating specifically on Olelo Niihau.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committees find that the dialect of Olelo Niihau, which evolved separately from Olelo Hawaii due to the isolation of the Niihau community, faces an existential threat due to external pressures to integrate new vocabulary and linguistic characteristics. A shortage of Hawaiian language revitalization initiatives specific to Olelo Niihau has also contributed to its decline. This measure seeks to support the preservation of a unique branch of Hawaiian history, culture, and language.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the University of Hawaii is requested to consider offering Olelo Hawaii micro-credentials focusing on Olelo Niihau, rather than an Olelo Hawaii Pathway concentrating specifically on Olelo Niihau;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 122, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 122, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________ HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair