HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	98
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ONGOING EFFORTS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP A SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER IN KAKA‘AKO MAKAI.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's kindergarten through twelfth-grade students' scores in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects are in need of improvement to meet today's advanced standards; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need for well-trained individuals with graduate-level education from Hawaii to fill local positions and fulfill Hawaii's highest goals and objectives in the STEM disciplines; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has an exceptional and unique natural laboratory, the surrounding ocean, for educating and training Hawaii's students in STEM disciplines; and

     WHEREAS, the quality of life and well-being of the people of Hawaii is intimately tied to the health of our ahupua‘a, surrounding ocean, and coastal environments; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's cultural, economic, and ecological future is also tied to the health and sustainability of the ocean and Hawaii's near-shore waters and reef habitats; and

     WHEREAS, Kaka‘ako Makai has compatible established facilities and supporting infrastructure in the most appropriate location with direct access to high-quality seawater flowing through the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Kewalo Marine Laboratory; and

     WHEREAS, a STEM research and education center is consistent with the community-based vision and guiding principles embodied in the 2011 Kaka‘ako Makai master plan; now, therefore,
     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports ongoing efforts to plan and develop a STEM research and education center with a focus in the marine and environmental sciences for students in kindergarten to the twelfth-grade, as well as university undergraduate and graduate students in Kaka‘ako Makai; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages all appropriate partners, such as the University of Hawaii, Department of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Kaka‘ako Makai community stakeholders, including community organizations and Kewalo Basin businesses, to cooperate in the ongoing efforts to plan and develop a STEM education and training center; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Kewalo Marine Laboratory; President of the University of Hawaii; Superintendent of Education; Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Chief Executive Officer of Kamehameha Schools; Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority; and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title: 

STEM Research and Education Center; Kakaako Makai; Marine Education;