HR61

WHEREAS, the relationship between the Society of Maryknoll and Hawaii first began in 1924 when the Vatican asked Maryknoll’s co-founder James A. Walsh to minister to the growing number of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean immigrants in the Territory of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the first Maryknollers, Father William Kress and Brother Philip Morini, arrived in Honolulu on February 4, 1927, and were assigned to a project that involved building a co-educational parish school; and

WHEREAS, ten Maryknoll Sisters were asked to come to Honolulu to open and start up MARYKNOLL SCHOOL in Honolulu, Hawaii, and since their arrival in September 1927, 398 Maryknoll Sisters have served Hawaii taking on the administration of six other elementary schools and two high schools, while answering other calls to serve, including the establishment of Catholic Charities Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Maryknoll Sisters opened MARYKNOLL SCHOOL on September 6, 1927, in a one-story wood-frame building, with six Maryknoll Sisters teaching 170 students in grades 1 through 6 and holding its first high school graduation in 1935; and

WHEREAS, 80 years later, MARYKNOLL SCHOOL educates 1,400 students in pre-Kindergarten through 12^th grade over two campuses and are committed to teaching service in every aspect of the curriculum and in extracurricular projects just as the Maryknoll Sisters taught; and

WHEREAS, 830 grade school students receive an exceptional academic foundation along with spiritual and character formation and 560 young men and women in high school receive a unique, student-centered experience, encouraging hands-on learning and genuinely valuing the gifts and talents of each student; and

WHEREAS, the School’s motto, “Noblesse Oblige” or “To whom much is given, much is expected” embodies the values of service and social justice of the founding Maryknoll Sisters; and

WHEREAS, MARYKNOLL SCHOOL remains committed to instilling these values of service and social justice through the education of young men and women in this State; 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 this body hereby recognizes and congratulates MARYKNOLL SCHOOL for its exceptional work, achievements, and community service to the people of Hawaii, and extends its warmest aloha and sincere best wishes for continued success in educating Hawaii's youth.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	61
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII