HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	99
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the department of education to support expanded community access to outdoor public school facilities and grounds during non-school hours.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, public schools are vital community institutions that serve students, their families, and local communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, many public school campuses across Hawaii include outdoor facilities, such as playgrounds, athletic fields, basketball courts, tracks, and open green spaces, that can provide safe and accessible places for physical activity and community connection; and

 

     WHEREAS, access to outdoor recreational spaces is essential to supporting the health and well-being of Hawaii's keiki and their families; and

 

     WHEREAS, many communities across the State experience limited access to parks, recreational facilities, and safe places for youth to play, particularly in dense urban areas and neighborhoods where public open space is scarce; and

 

     WHEREAS, public health organizations, youth advocates, and community groups across Hawaii have identified expanded access to safe outdoor recreational spaces as an important strategy for improving youth health and supporting more active communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, expanding community access to existing public school outdoor facilities during non-school hours, including weekends, represents an opportunity to maximize the use of public infrastructure to promote healthier and more active communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, shared use of school recreational spaces has been successfully implemented in jurisdictions across the United States as a strategy to increase physical activity, strengthen community ties, and support childhood development; and

 

     WHEREAS, policies that encourage community use of outdoor school spaces can help foster stronger relationships between schools and the communities they serve, while supporting broader public health goals; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education is urged to support efforts to expand community access to outdoor public school facilities and grounds during non-school hours, including opportunities for weekend access, where appropriate and feasible; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is encouraged to explore opportunities to facilitate community use of outdoor school spaces in a manner that balances respect for school operations and positive community engagement; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is encouraged to engage with interested stakeholders about exploring opportunities that allow public school campuses to serve as spaces that promote physical activity for youth and community health; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Education.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Department of Education; Public School Facilities; Community Access