WHEREAS, the United States Department of Education honors the nation's most successful schools for excellence in teaching and instruction, student achievement, leadership, and parental involvement by awarding them recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools; and

WHEREAS, the No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a federal recognition program sponsored by the United States Department of Education that honors public and private K-12 schools that demonstrate excellence with challenging academic standards and a rigorous curriculum for all students; a disciplined, supportive, safe, and drug-free environment; participatory leadership and a strong partnership among the family, school, and community; excellent teaching in a school environment that strengthens teacher skills; and low dropout rates and documented student achievement; and

WHEREAS, three outstanding Hawaii schools, ALIIOLANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOKULANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, and KAHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL have been honored as Hawaii's 2005 Blue Ribbon Schools for their superior efforts in the educational development of their students, and have met the high standards and accountability measures under the No Child Left Behind Act; and

WHEREAS, ALIIOLANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOKULANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, and KAHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL rely on partnerships with parents, teachers, businesses, social agencies, and communities to raise the learning standards of their students, a key ingredient of academic excellence; and

WHEREAS, at ALIIOLANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Kaimuki, the mission of the school is to meet the physical, social and intellectual needs of all the students by providing instruction which will equip them to become literate, responsible, and productive members of society; and

WHEREAS, at HOKULANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Manoa, students accomplish their goals within a caring community that promotes peace and world citizenship, and establishes a strong foundation for lifelong learning by nurturing, guiding, and challenging all of the students to achieve their maximum potential; and

WHEREAS, at KAHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Kahala, teachers

are committed to maintaining a supportive environment that encourages the full development of their students, molding them into responsible, caring, and capable lifelong learners that are prepared to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that this body hereby honors and congratulates ALIIOLANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOKULANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, and KAHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL for being recognized as the 2005 Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools, enabling them to represent Hawaii in the federal No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program, and extends to all of their students, parents, faculty, and administrators, its warmest Aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.