REPORT TITLE:
Hawaiian Language, College


DESCRIPTION:
Provides for special legislative oversight for the Hawaiian
language college.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1802
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
   HAWAII AT HILO.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Hawaiian language
 
 2 college known as Ka Haka `Ula O Ke`elikolani was established by
 
 3 the legislature in 1997 at the University of Hawaii at Hilo to
 
 4 serve as a focal point for the revitalization of the Hawaiian
 
 5 language.  As could be expected, questions were raised about this
 
 6 new college during its beginnings.  However, since then the
 
 7 commitment of the faculty and the progress made by the college
 
 8 have demonstrated its viability and relevance to the community.
 
 9 Since its establishment, the college has successfully carried out
 
10 the purposes for which it was established, including initiation
 
11 of a graduate program in the Hawaiian language, a teacher
 
12 education certificate in the Hawaiian language, and a laboratory
 
13 school program in the Hawaiian language.  These programs are
 
14 firsts for a Native American language, making important
 
15 contributions to the State, and making extensive use of
 
16 technology.
 
17      A problem faced by the Hawaiian language college is a
 
18 prohibition from using non-specially allocated general funds for
 
19 its operations.  This prohibition is a detriment to the normal
 

 
Page 2                                                     1802
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        


 1 development of the college.  The college has proven that it can
 
 2 be a relevant part of the university and that it can make
 
 3 meaningful contributions to the community.  The prohibition
 
 4 should be removed.  Furthermore, the prohibition was initiated
 
 5 before the University of Hawaii system was granted autonomy and
 
 6 was not removed when the University of Hawaii system was granted
 
 7 autonomy.  Thus, the Hawaiian language college is the only entity
 
 8 in the University of Hawaii system that is not part of the fully
 
 9 autonomous University of Hawaii system, a situation that would be
 
10 ameliorated by the removal of the prohibition.
 
11      While it is important to remove the prohibition on the use
 
12 of general funds for the college, the legislature recognizes a
 
13 unique oversight responsibility for the Hawaiian language college
 
14 created by it.  The state constitution recognizes the Hawaiian
 
15 language as an official language of the State and requires
 
16 special promotion of the language.
 
17      Allowing the Hawaiian language college to be funded with
 
18 general funds while providing special legislative oversight of
 
19 the college will allow it to operate on an equal basis with other
 
20 colleges in the University of Hawaii at Hilo while still assuring
 
21 that unique state constitutionally mandated purposes are carried
 
22 out through the college.
 
23      SECTION 2.  Section 5 of Act 315, Session Laws of Hawaii
 

 
Page 3                                                     1802
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        


 1 1997, is amended to read as follows:
 
 2      "SECTION 5.  [Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
 
 3 general funds shall not be appropriated to fund the continuation
 
 4 of the Hawaiian language college at the University of Hawaii at
 
 5 Hilo if initial funds are deemed inadequate or become
 
 6 unavailable.] As a means to further state constitutional
 
 7 provisions relative to the Hawaiian language, the legislature
 
 8 shall have special oversight responsibility for the Hawaiian
 
 9 language college as a focal point in the State of Hawaii's use
 
10 and promotion of the Hawaiian language.  The University of Hawaii
 
11 shall continue to work with the office of Hawaiian affairs, the
 
12 federal government, and `Aha Punana Leo, Inc., to establish
 
13 additional funding for the needs of the college."
 
14      SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
15 New statutory material is underscored.
 
16      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
17 
 
18                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________