HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

190

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON HOW TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO instruction in THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATEWIDE.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 led to a ban on teaching and learning through the medium of the Hawaiian language beginning in 1896, thereby eradicating the Hawaiian language from all formal education for the next four generations; and

 

     WHEREAS, at the turn of the century, native speakers of Hawaiian amounted to under 0.1 per cent of the statewide population leading linguists to worry about the fate of the language going forward, even going so far as to ponder its extinction; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the late 1960's and early 1970's, a resurgence in cultural pride and identity led to significant increase in the interest in and practice of Hawaiian culture, along with a growing alarm that the Hawaiian language could be lost with the passing of the few native speakers remaining; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Studies Program, a K-12 program that provides curriculum support and resources in the instruction and learning of Hawaiian culture, history, and language, was established by the Department of Education in 1980 to implement the 1978 State Constitution's mandate to promote "the study of Hawaiian culture, history and language" by providing a Hawaiian education program and using community expertise "as a suitable and essential means in furtherance of Hawaiian education;" and

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian language instruction in Hawaii's public schools has been limited in that it occurs only at select grade levels and within specific subject areas, with the result that the school system provides instruction in Spanish in more of Hawaii's public schools than Hawaiian, despite Hawaiian being one of the State's two official languages; and

 

     WHEREAS, recently, efforts such as the introduction of Kaiapuni immersion schools and the Nā Hopena Ao ("HĀ") policy have been made to expand Hawaiian language education throughout the State.  However, implementation of the State's pledge within the 1978 Constitution to promote "the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language" have been found lacking; and

 

     WHEREAS, Ōlelo Hawaii represents a keystone of our keiki's understanding of these islands, their unique culture, and heritage; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education's Office of Hawaiian Education is requested to conduct a study to determine:

 

     (1)  How the teaching of Hawaiian language can be restructured to best promote the expansion of K-12 Hawaiian language curriculum to serve the needs of the State;

 

     (2)  How the expansion of Hawaiian language instruction throughout the public school system in Hawaii can best be accomplished; and

 

     (3)  Whether Hawaiian language instruction would be best conducted through the Hawaiian Studies program or by different means; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study should include research on the following topics:

     (1)  The current structure and pedagogy of the Hawaiian language courses offered in public schools throughout the State;

 

     (2)  What resources are necessary to provide access to Hawaiian language study in all public schools statewide;

 

     (3)  Recent and current trends in student-driven initiatives to learn Hawaiian; and

 

     (4)  Specific strategies to enhance and expedite Hawaiian language instruction on different campuses throughout the public school system in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education's Office of Hawaiian Education is requested to submit a report of its study including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the commencement of the 2017 Regular Session; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education, the Director of the Office of Hawaiian Education, the Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, The Chairperson of the Board of Education, Ahahui Olelo Hawaii, and the Head of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Hawaiian Language; Education