HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

126

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO WORK WITH THE HAWAI‘INUIĀKEA SCHOOL OF HAWAIIAN KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO DEVELOP A KUPUNA HONORARY DEGREE PROGRAM.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Nobel Prize was first awarded in 1901 and is widely regarded as the most prestigious award an individual may receive in various fields; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Nobel Prize is a prize that is awarded based on purely western standards; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian kupuna worldwide are also deserving of recognition for their contributions, but based entirely on Hawaiian standards; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian kupuna have made many significant contributions to all Hawaiians and to the world; and

 

     WHEREAS, the concept of the kupuna honorary degree program originated with Kumu Hula Keli‘i Tau‘a; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is proper for a process to be established to appropriately recognize and honor eligible kupuna in a manner and on a level similar to the Nobel Prize, but based on Hawaiian standards; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Education Division of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is requested to work with the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge of the University of Hawaii to develop a kupuna honorary degree program, which shall award the Hawaii equivalent of the Nobel Prize to eligible Hawaiian kupuna; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Education Division of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, working with the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, is requested to consider including in any kupuna honorary degree program it develops, establishing awards in the following categories, according to varying minimum age requirements:

 

     (1)  Religion;

 

     (2)  Health;

 

     (3)  Agriculture;

 

     (4)  Fishing;

 

     (5)  Crafts and weaving;

 

     (6)  Celestial navigation;

 

     (7)  Education;

 

     (8)  Government;

 

     (9)  Business;

 

    (10)  Performing arts, including hula and chant;

 

    (11)  Fine arts; and

 

    (12)  Music;

 

and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is requested to work with the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge to establish the kupuna komike, which shall establish standards for award of the degree, and to consider including at least the following criteria:

 

     (1)  Contributions to the community; and

 

     (2)  Qualifying age for varying categories of degrees;

 

and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the kupuna komike, when established, is requested to award the degree to eligible Hawaiian kupuna; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Education Division of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, working with the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge in developing the program, is requested not to restrict awards to persons within the State of Hawaii but to make awards to individuals worldwide; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Education Division of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, working with the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, is further requested to consider providing a financial prize of some kind to each award recipient; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Kumu Hula Keli‘i Tau‘a, the Director of the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge of the University of Hawaii, and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and the Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs who, in turn, is requested to distribute copies to all appropriate Hawaiian entities within and outside the State.

Report Title: 

Honorary Degree Program; Office of Hawaiian Affairs