STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 3 2024
RE: S . R. No. 56
S. D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred
S.R. No. 56 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING BUSINESSES IN HAWAII TO USE
HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO TEACH
EMPLOYEES HAWAIIAN AND HIRE PERMANENT HAWAII LANGUAGE
TEACHERS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:
(1) Businesses in Hawaii to incorporate Hawaiian language in
their daily operations;
(2) The Department of Education to develop and implement
programs to teach employees Hawaiian; and
(3) The Department of Education to hire permanent Hawaiian
language teachers.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and three
individuals.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this
measure from one individual.
2024-2497 SR SSCR SMA docx
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Page 2
Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian language, also known
as ‘Olelo Hawai‘i, holds cultural significance and is an integral
part of the State's rich heritage. Your Committee further finds
that encouraging the use of Hawaiian language in business
operations is a positive step toward cultural enrichment and
linguistic diversity that will create opportunities for the
permanent employment of Hawaiian language teachers. Your
Committee believes that businesses in the State, with the
assistance of the Department of Education (Department), Hawaiian
cultural organizations, and Hawaiian language experts, should
incorporate Hawaiian language in their daily operations to ensure
that the Hawaiian language will continue to flourish.
Your Committee notes the concern raised in the testimony from
the Department that this measure would request the Department to
provide educational support and resources for people who are not
students, which does not align with the Department's vision and
mission. Your Committee also notes that the Department provides
Hawaiian language courses through the Community School for Adults
at multiple locations, online and in-person.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language requesting the Department to make
Hawaiian language courses available at all forty-three
public high schools; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report,
your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 56,
as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form
attached hereto as S.R. No. 56, S.D. 1.
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Page 3
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,
Chair
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Hawaiian Affairs
HWN
Bill / Resolution No.:* Corpmittee Referral: Date:
SU 5 b o4/n/2t/7L|
The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to: ________________________________________________
The Recommendation is:
Pass, unamended I'^Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 ' 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
SHIMABUKURO, Maile S.L. (C)
FEVELLA, Kurt (VC)
IHARA, Jr., Les
KEOHOKALOLE, Jarrett
RICHARDS, III, Herbert M. “Tim”
TOTAL
Recommendation: ।
-4;^ Adopted / __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or DMianee’s Signature^ yj
Distribution: Original ■' Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 12/27/23