STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1565-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 50

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 50 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI BOARD OF REGENTS TO CONSIDER RENAMING LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO PUʻULOA COMMUNITY COLLEGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to consider renaming Leeward Community College to Puʻuloa Community College.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that Leeward Community College is situated within the historic and cultural region of Puʻuloa, which has the highest concentration of traditional loko iʻa, which sustained communities through food production, irrigation, and stewardship of natural resources. Your Committee further finds that Leeward Community College aspires to be a leading indigenous-serving community college dedicated to inclusion, innovation, and a strong Hawaiian sense of place so renaming it Puʻuloa Community College will help solidify its commitment to this goal.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 50 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

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ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair