Bill > HB1242

This bill requires the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) to establish a comprehensive Hawaiian language immersion school (Kula Kaiapuni) in Kapolei, with a phased implementation plan to serve kindergarten through 12th grade students by the 2028-2029 school year. The legislation is rooted in the Hawaii State Constitution's mandate to promote Hawaiian culture, history, and language, and specifically addresses the growing population in the Ewa district that currently lacks a permanent Hawaiian language immersion school. The plan involves a strategic rollout beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, where the DOE will first secure a temporary site for kindergarten, 1st, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students, and progressively add grades each subsequent year until a full K-12 school is established by 2028-2029. The bill also requires the DOE to allocate administrative and teaching positions based on enrollment numbers from the Ewa, Waialua, and Waianae land districts, and appropriates funding to support the school's development. This initiative aims to fulfill the state's constitutional obligation to provide Hawaiian language education and meet the growing demand for Hawaiian language immersion programs in the region.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1242&year=2026