STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1761

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 74

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 74, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL, PROGRAM, AND MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S HAWAIIAN STUDIES PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a financial, program, and management audit of the Department of Education's Hawaiian Studies Program.

     Comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Department of Education, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the Kualii Native Hawaiian University of Hawaii at Manoa Advisory Council, Ka Lei Papahi o Kakuhihewa, six current and two past kupuna from the Department of Education Hawaiian Studies Program, and several private citizens.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian education program was established in the Department of Education pursuant to article X, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, which mandates the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language in the State's public schools.  Your Committee is aware of allegations of the mismanagement of funds allocated for Hawaiian studies programs and underpayment or inappropriate use of kupuna.  The kupuna are an invaluable resource in an equally valuable program intended to educate all students about the indigenous people and host culture of Hawaii.  Your Committee finds that current financial, program, and management concerns about the Hawaiian studies program need to be clarified and that an audit would provide increased transparency and accountability in the program's operational practices.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 74, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair