STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1421

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.C.R. No. 53

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 53 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FISCAL AUDIT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A PROGRAM AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S HAWAIIAN STUDIES PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a fiscal audit and the Department of Education to conduct a program audit of the Department's Hawaiian Studies Program.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Ka Lei Papahi o Kakuhihewa.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian Studies Program was mandated by the 1978 Constitutional Convention to assist public elementary students to learn, understand, and appreciate Hawaiian culture. However, not all schools implement the program in all required grade levels due to lack of funds. There have also been reports of classes being put on hold and instructors being released. This concurrent resolution would verify the financial situation of the program and clarify the appropriate salaries for the instructors.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 53 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Military Affairs,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair