STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1768-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 171

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 171 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A SHARED-DECISION MAKING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO ESTABLISH A K-12 KAIAPUNI SCHOOL IN KAPOLEI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to convene a shared-decision making committee to develop an action plan to establish a K-12 Kaiapuni school in Kapolei.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board; Ke ʻAlohi ʻo ʻEwa; Changemakers Hawaiʻi; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that culturally grounded educational pathways can strengthen student belonging, identity, and educational outcomes, and that community-driven planning is essential when expanding Kaiapuni options. Your Committee further finds that establishing a K–12 Kaiapuni school requires coordinated planning amongst stakeholders to ensure feasibility, staffing, and long-term sustainability. This measure requests the convening of a shared-decision making committee to develop an action plan to facilitate effective action planning and resource allocation to establish a K-12 Kaiapuni school in Kapolei that meets the unique needs of current and future students.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Education to include as part of the process for phasing in Kaiapuni education to address the hiring and recruitment of qualified teachers proficient in olelo Hawaii;

(2) Requesting that the shared-decision making committee to submit:

(A) A progress report on the status of the action plan to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2027 and 2028; and

(B) A final report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2029; 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. 171, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 171, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair