Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 999, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, UH-Manoa Kualii Native Hawaiian Advisory Council, UH-Manoa College of Education, UH-Manoa Hawaiian Language Program, and several individuals testified in support of this bill. The University of Hawaii supported this bill with amendments. DOE supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that this measure is critical for the development and expansion of Hawaiian language medium education. As an entity working in collaboration with the Hawaii Department of Education for the purpose of addressing Hawaiian language medium education through Hawaiian immersion teacher education and curriculum development, the University of Hawaii in partnership with the Kualii Native Hawaiian Council realizes the importance of and supports the advancement of such educational programs. Since raising the bar for teacher education and curriculum development will in turn raise the bar for student excellence; the adoption of this measure can only strengthen Hawaiian language education.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 999, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.