| 43 | | - | WHEREAS, article XV, section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution recognizes both Hawaiian and English as the official languages of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, the Department of Education supports Hawaiian language fluency through Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion schools across the State; and WHEREAS, Kamehameha III established the first public education system in the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1840, making ʻOlelo Hawaii the first and only language of instruction at the time; and WHEREAS, the Republic of Hawaii passed section 30 of Act 57 in 1896, which made English the medium and basis of instruction for all public schools and private schools, effectively removing Olelo Hawaii from the classroom and the school system; and WHEREAS, children who spoke ʻOlelo Hawaii in school were verbally and physically reprimanded and made to feel ashamed of their native tongue; and WHEREAS, a group of Hawaiian language educators established the Punana Leo Preschool in 1984 to provide an immersive experience for preschool-aged children and their families to learn ʻOlelo Hawaii and adopt the language as their primary means of communication; and WHEREAS, section 30 of Act 57 was repealed in 1986, allowing for the establishment of the first Kula Kaiapuni in 1987; and WHEREAS, although the growing participation in Kaiapuni education has been unmatched, the Kula Kaiapuni face struggles, such as teacher shortages, insufficient facilities, and limited support for curriculum development; and WHEREAS, Kaiapuni students and their families encounter limited access to activities, materials, and learning opportunities that they can do together to promote use of ʻOlelo Hawaii in the home; and WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa strives to revitalize Hawaiian language and culture through quality Hawaiian education by creating and providing materials, curricula, and resources that promote the use of Hawaiian; and WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa created and implemented the I Hoa na Moolelo Project in 2021 to publish a quarterly children's magazine written in the Hawaiian language, for the enjoyment of Kaiapuni and charter school students in grades 2-6 on Oahu; and WHEREAS, this body recognizes the value and importance of the practice and preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, through its I Hoa na Moolelo Project, is encouraged to provide Kaiapuni students and families with Hawaiian language and literacy resources and to create opportunities for ʻOlelo Hawaii to flourish in homes and communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. |
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| 43 | + | WHEREAS, Article XV, section 4 of the State Constitution recognizes both Hawaiian and English as the official languages of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, the Department of Education supports Hawaiian language fluency through Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion schools across the State; and WHEREAS, Kamehameha III established the first public education system in the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1840, making Olelo Hawaii the first and only language of instruction at the time; and WHEREAS, the Republic of Hawaii passed section 30 of Act 57 in 1896, which made English the medium and basis of instruction for all public and private schools, effectively removing Olelo Hawaii from the classroom and the school system; and WHEREAS, children who spoke Olelo Hawaii in school were verbally and physically reprimanded and made to feel ashamed of their native tongue; and WHEREAS, a group of Hawaiian language educators established the Punana Leo Preschool in 1984 to provide an immersive experience for preschool-aged children and their families to learn Olelo Hawaii and adopt it as their primary means of communication; and WHEREAS, section 30 of Act 57 was repealed in 1986, allowing for the establishment of the first Kula Kaiapuni in 1987; and WHEREAS, although the growing participation in Kaiapuni education has been unmatched, Kula Kaiapuni face struggles, such as teacher shortages, insufficient facilities, and limited support for curriculum development; and WHEREAS, Kaiapuni students and their families encounter limited access to activities, materials, and learning opportunities that they can do together to promote use of Olelo Hawaii in the home; and WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa strives to revitalize Hawaiian language and culture through quality Hawaiian education by creating and providing faculty, materials, curricula, and resources that promote the use of Hawaiian; and WHEREAS, the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa created and implemented the I Hoa na Moolelo Project in 2021 to publish a quarterly children's magazine written in the Hawaiian language, for the enjoyment of Kaiapuni and charter school students in grades 2-6 on Oahu; and WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the value and importance of the practice and preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, through its I Hoa na Moolelo Project, is encouraged to provide Kaiapuni students and families with Hawaiian language and literacy resources and to create opportunities for Olelo Hawaii to flourish in homes and communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ |
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