STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1700
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.C.R. No. 86
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 86 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH AN ALOHA CIVICS WORKING GROUP TO ENHANCE CIVICS EDUCATION IN HAWAII,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; and Common Cause Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.
Your Committee finds that the "Aloha Spirit" is a unique cultural attribute of Hawaii, embodying the principles of kindness, unity, humility, patience, and a deep sense of love and respect for others. Your Committee further finds that integrating the Aloha Spirit into civics education can help equip students with the tools to engage in political and social discussions in a manner that promotes unity and mutual understanding.
Your Committee notes that the Department of Education convened the Civic Learning and Engagement Task Force, at the direction of the Board of Education, to provide recommendations to the Board on strengthening and elevating civic learning, and to objectively measure knowledge, skills, and participation. The Civic Learning and Engagement Task Force published its findings and recommendations on March 2024, and which the Department of Education is now using to inform strategic planning and implementation efforts within the Department that will strengthen and elevate civic learning. Your Committee believes it would be more prudent to evaluate the efforts made by the Department of Education to implement the Civic Learning and Engagement Task Force's recommendations.
Your Committee has accordingly amended this measure by:
(1) Clarifying that the Department of Education is requested to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on the implementation of aloha-based civic education initiatives in Hawaii's public schools, based on the recommendations made by the Department's Civic Learning and Engagement Task Force, rather than requesting the Department to establish an Aloha Civics Working Group;
(2) Amending the list of recipients of certified copies of this measure;
(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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. 86, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 86, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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