STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3547

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 115

S.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 S.R. No. 115 entitled:

"SENATE 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 develop a social studies course for high school students to learn about Filipino history, culture, and identity, and take certain related actions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Tinalak Filipino Education Council, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, and twenty-nine individuals.

Your Committee finds that Filipinos are the largest Asian ethnic and non-white group in Hawaii, at more than twenty-five per cent of the population, and have had a long presence and cultural footprint in the State. Your Committee further finds that despite being the largest ethnic group in the Hawaii education system, there is inadequate Filipino representation in staffing and course offerings.

Your Committee additionally finds that when students are represented, they feel a stronger ethnic pride and identity, and are more empowered to positively contribute to their communities. Accordingly, this measure promotes Filipino cultural awareness and empowerment by requesting the Department of Education to develop curricula and take other actions.

Your Committee notes the incredible amount of community support for this measure, and strongly urges the Department of Education to expand the request of this measure to include all ethnic groups and cultures, so that all students can feel represented in the education system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Education to develop, instead of implement, the subject curricula;

(2) Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.R. No. 115, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 115, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair