Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 10 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education, Board of Education, and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools to consider integrating policies of edible gardens in school curricula.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education, Kona Brewing Company, and seven individuals. Comments were submitted by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Your Committees recognize the importance of developing sound eating habits early in life as they impact the reduction of illness, obesity, and other health-related problems, as well as the importance of increasing students' awareness and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Schools are able to establish edible school gardens as long as drainage and underground infrastructure are not adversely impacted. The Hawaii Content and Performance Standards for Health identify nutrition as one of the content risk areas and the skill of self-management to foster healthy lifestyles. Growing vegetables or having a class vegetable garden has also been integrated into these studies.

Thus, your Committees have changed the focus of this resolution by amending its language to encourage the promotion of policies promoting the integration of edible gardens in school curricula.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 10, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 10, S.D. 1.