STAND. COM. REP. NO.  135-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2706

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2706 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for three permanent faculty positions and operating expenses for the Hookulaiwi: Aha Hoonaauao Oiwi Center for Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Education within the College of Education of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     The University of Hawaii College of Education, the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, the Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Community Association, Sovereign Mokupuni O Oahu, the Waianae Kai Homestead Assocciation, and many concerned individuals supported the measure.  Three concerned individuals supported the intent of the measure.  The Department of Education supported the measure with amendments.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs offered comments on the measure.   

 

     Your Committee respectfully notes that while many Native Hawaiian education experts expressed support for the measure, some experts wished to see funding and support for all programs that serve native Hawaiians in the College of Education and to not limit funding only to the Hookulaiwi program.  These experts proposed that the funding be directed to the College of Education so it can be distributed to all Hawaiian education initiatives, including Hookulaiwi.  These experts find that to truly service students, the experts need to be able to recruit students into the multitude of programs in the College of Education that fit the students' needs and not force them into one particular program that may restrict their opportunities.  Your Committee finds that these concerns merit acknowledgement as this measure progresses through the legislative process.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2706 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair