STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1137-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.C.R. No. 190

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 190 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON HOW TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO INSTRUCTION IN THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATEWIDE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to serve the State's constitutional mandate to promote the study of Hawaiian history, culture, and language by requesting that the Department of Education's Office of Hawaiian Education conduct a study to determine how to restructure and expand the Department's Hawaiian language education programs in the public schools to provide access to meaningful instruction to more children in the public school system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and Hawaii State Teachers Association.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.  The Department of Education submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 190 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair