WHEREAS, as an island state located in close proximity to Asia and the Pacific islands, Hawaii is closely linked to the region and shares military, diplomatic, security, business, social, educational, and cultural interests that make Hawaii ideally situated to serve as the crossroads of the Asia-Pacific region; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's trade with the Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than eighty-five per cent of its total export worldwide, and the continued growth of Hawaii's economy will depend on, in large part, increased exports from Hawaii to the region, continued Asian investments in Hawaii, and enhanced Asia-Pacific tourism to Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, to maintain an Asia-Pacific leadership position in the region requires Hawaii to maintain a strong base of expertise on Asia and the Pacific islands, including linguistic skills; and

WHEREAS, to maintain Hawaii's competitive edge over other states in the United States, vis-à-vis the Asia-Pacific region, Hawaii residents must have the knowledge and skills to take advantage of the opportunities presented in the region; and

WHEREAS, research indicates that the United States as a whole fails to graduate enough students with expertise in Asian or Pacific languages, cultures, and policies to fill the current demands of business, government, and education; and

WHEREAS, according to a June 2001 report by the National Commission on Asia in the Schools, led by then-Governors James B. Hunt, Jr., of North Carolina and John Engler of Michigan, a vast majority of American adults believe that Asia-related education is vital for American students and seven in ten students agree that learning about Asia will prepare them for life and work in the twenty-first century; and

WHEREAS, in the report, although both American adults and students identified teachers and schools as their principal sources of information about the Asia-Pacific region, the Commission found that less than five per cent of our teachers have adequate background to teach about the region effectively; and

WHEREAS, research also indicates that Asia-Pacific-related education is lacking in Hawaii's public schools; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii should take maximum advantage of its geographic proximity, as well as its historical and cultural connections, to the Asia-Pacific region to include Asia and Pacific-related education as an integral part of Hawaii public school students' studies at all grade levels; and

WHEREAS, during the past fourteen years, the East-West Center's Consortium for Teaching Asia and the Pacific in the Schools (now renamed AsiaPacificEd Program for Schools) has worked in close cooperation with the state Department of Education to provide professional development support on the Asia-Pacific region to more than nine thousand K-12 educators throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, furthermore, in the report by the Blue Ribbon Commission, the Consortium received national recognition as one of fourteen "best practice" models nationwide to promote teaching and learning about Asia and the Pacific in K-12 schools; and

WHEREAS, establishing effective Asia-Pacific-related education for Hawaii's students will ensure that Hawaii residents have the knowledge and skills to prepare them for success in our increasingly interconnected world in which the Asia-Pacific region plays a significant role; and

WHEREAS, Asia-Pacific-related knowledge and expertise are also valuable in promoting international security as well as furthering a mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body and the Governor are requested to establish a task force on Asia-Pacific-related education to ensure that Hawaii students meet high performance standards in education about Asia and the Pacific and understand the impact of the State's relationship with the region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate are requested to each appoint one member from their respective chambers to coordinate the task force on Asia-Pacific education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to appoint one task force member from each of the following organizations:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to develop a strategic plan for:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to provide administrative staff support to the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including its strategic plan and any necessary proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the President of the East-West Center, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Superintendent of Education, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Report Title:

Education; Task Force; Asia-Pacific n