Bill > HB1203

This bill aims to address the lack of Hawaiian language immersion schools in the Leeward area of Oahu by appropriating funds to establish a new immersion school for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill acknowledges the state constitution's requirement to promote Hawaiian culture, history, and language, and highlights the current challenges faced by native Hawaiian families. Specifically, the legislature notes that the existing Hawaiian language immersion school on Oahu is located in Palolo, forcing students from the Leeward area to leave home as early as 5:00 a.m. and return late in the evening, which creates significant hardships for families who rely on their children for household support. The bill proposes to allocate state general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to the Department of Education to establish this new immersion school, with the goal of making Hawaiian language education more accessible to students in the Leeward area. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will be implemented by the Department of Education to fulfill the state's constitutional obligation to provide Hawaiian education programs.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1203&year=2025