STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4071

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 56

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 56, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT A FILIPINO HISTORY, CULTURE, AND IDENTITY SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to:

(1) Implement a social studies course for high school students to learn about Filipino history, culture, and identity;

(2) Implement Filipino content into Department of Education content performance standards;

(3) Integrate this curriculum into existing Filipino language classes and other courses and curricula, including language arts, math, social studies, science, and visual and performing arts; and

(4) Recruit and support Filipino teachers in teaching this content.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, Tinalak Filipino Education Council, Sariling Gawa Youth Council, and twenty-three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Filipinos are the largest Asian ethnic and non-white group in Hawaii and have a large presence and cultural footprint in the State. Despite this fact, there is currently no mandated curriculum regarding Asian American history in Hawaii schools.  Your Committee further finds that, in 2020, news reports indicated that anti-Asian hate crimes had increased nearly one hundred fifty percent in the United States.

Accordingly, this measure will promote positive racial relations and attitudes amongst all ethnic groups by implementing a social studies course for high school students to learn about Filipino history and culture. Your Committee emphasizes that this measure should serve as an important first step in incorporating wider cultural perspectives into public education in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 56, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair