HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	172
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT THE "NA HONUA MAULI OLA:  HAWAI`I GUIDELINES FOR CULTURALLY HEALTHY AND RESPONSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS" TO ENABLE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO EXAMINE AND ATTEND TO THE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL WELL-BEING OF THEIR LEARNERS.

     WHEREAS, article x, section 4 of the state constitution provides that the State shall promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history and language; and

     WHEREAS, article x, section 4 requires the State to provide for a Hawaiian education program consisting of language, culture, and history in the public schools and to encourage the use of community expertise as a suitable and essential means in furtherance of the Hawaiian education program; and

     WHEREAS, the document "Nä Honua Mauli Ola:  Hawai`i Guidelines for Culturally Healthy and Responsive Learning Environments" is a product of genuine community expertise, developed by the Native Hawaiian Education Council in partnership with Ka Haka `Ula o Ke`elikölani College of Hawaiian Language, and endorsed by Alu Like Inc., the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Queen Lili`uokalani Children's Center, the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, The Kamehameha Schools, Papa Ola Lökahi, Polynesian Voyaging Society, the University of Hawai`i at Hilo, and others; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" evolved over several years of shared discussion and reflection among educators, service providers, families, and community members across the State, occurring at events like the Education Summits of 1993 and 1997; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" is grounded in Hawaiian beliefs, best practices, and traditions based on the belief that continued learning and practice of the Hawaiian language and culture is a fundamental prerequisite for nurturing culturally healthy and responsive citizens and contributes to the growth and harmony of the community; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" is guided by the philosophy "Ke Kumu Honua Mauli Ola" (Foundations of Cultural Identity), a framework written entirely in Hawaiian by a volunteer group formed through the consortium of the `Aha Pünana Leo and Ka Haka 'Ula o Ke`elikölani and which expresses the traditional Hawaiian metaphors and teachings passed down to us by our küpuna; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" follows other successful indigenous templates such as the Alaska Native Knowledge Network; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" enhances the Hawai`i State Content and Performance Standards and defines what students should know, be able to do, and value and care about; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" supports the recognition of Hawaiian as an official language of public education and the State's mandate for Hawaiian language and culture education with constructive solutions for implementation; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" can be used in all learning environments such as homes, schools, institutions, hälau, churches, clubs, museums, cultural centers, educational programs, and other community groups and organizational activities; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" contains the philosophy, goals, outcomes, strategies, roles, and accountability measures necessary to embrace, share, and support the learning community in totality; and

     WHEREAS, "Nä Honua Mauli Ola" aims to facilitate the growth of Hawaiian education by improving the quality of education and advancing educational opportunities for Hawaiians throughout the world, without being exclusive; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Department of Education is urged to adopt the "Nä Honua Mauli Ola:  Hawai`i Guidelines for Culturally Healthy and Responsive Learning Environments" as a document that enables schools and communities to examine and attend to the educational and cultural well-being of their learners; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to work in partnership with the Native Hawaiian Education Council, Ka Haka `Ula o Ke`elikölani, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to make this document available to all Department staff; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Nä Honua Mauli Ola: Hawaii Guidelines for Culturally Health and Responsive Learning Environments; Department of Education