STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1209

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.R. No. 60
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred S.R. No. 60 entitled:

     "SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER,
     LAND, AND HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT AN INVENTORY OF EARLY
     CHILDHOOD CARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the Senate
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs conduct an
inventory of early childhood education services provided to
Native Hawaiians by Native Hawaiian interest organizations during
the 1999 interim.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     The measure calls for a comprehensive study that includes
descriptions of early childhood education services that are
currently provided to Native Hawaiians and where these services
are being provided, figures detailing how many children are being
served, an evaluation of the effectiveness of these services, and
recommendations for further legislative actions.

     The inventory would include the services provided by Native
Hawaiian Agencies such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,
Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, and Alu Like, Inc.


 
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     Your Committee finds that significant economic and social
changes during the past twenty years have made child care and
early education issues a high priority in our State's public
policy agenda.  As more parents enter the work force, including
more women and two-parent families of all income levels, it is
important to help them secure child care that is both affordable
and supportive of the child's development.

     Your Committee also finds that recent scientific evidence
about the brain confirms that learning begins at birth and that
very young children benefit from stimulating attention with
responsive caregivers, including parents and others outside the
home.  Other scientific studies show that quality early care and
education services have a dramatic long-term effect on a child's
ability to succeed in school, achieve economically, and avoid the
criminal justice system.

     Your Committee believes that because Native Hawaiians have
traditionally been disadvantaged, the State has an obligation to
aid in the provision of services to Native Hawaiians, including
early childhood education services.  Although there are many
Native Hawaiian interest organizations, it is unknown how many of
these organizations provide early childhood education services to
Native Hawaiian children.  For these reasons, your Committee
believes that the inventory is necessary.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and
purpose of S.R. No. 60 and recommends its adoption.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water, Land, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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