Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 636 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Hawaiian language immersion program as a complete educational program or schooling experience provided to students in the medium of the Hawaiian language.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Education (DOE), Na Leo Kako'o O Maui, Inc., and one hundred seventy-five individuals.

This measure is intended to permanently establish the Hawaiian language immersion program in the public schools. The DOE is authorized to create a separate office of Hawaiian language immersion instruction for the direction and control of the program.

In addition to the preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture, this measure is a vehicle for revitalization of the Hawaiian language and assisting the people of Hawaiian ancestry to regain and maintain their language.

Your Committees were impressed with every Hawaiian language immersion student who testified on this measure. Almost each one said that the program is more than language instruction. It actually helps Hawaiian students to learn, to like school, and to succeed in school. Therefore, your Committees find that this program has an inestimable and intangible value beyond just language instruction.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 636 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.