Bill > SB1631

This bill establishes the Hawaii Civics Collaborative, a nonprofit organization administratively attached to the Department of Accounting and General Services, to promote civic engagement and perpetuate the Aloha Spirit throughout the state. The collaborative will be composed of representatives from various state entities, including government leaders, education officials, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and will coordinate a state civics program designed to educate residents about democracy, its processes, and public engagement practices. The bill creates two full-time equivalent civic education specialist positions within the Department of Education and appropriates $250,000 for these positions, as well as $50,000 for the legislative Public Access Room to support civics programming. The collaborative will develop educational courses, workshops, and learning opportunities that cover democratic processes, media literacy, civic leadership training, and community improvement projects, with a unique focus on incorporating the traditional Hawaiian value of Aloha - which emphasizes mutual care, respect, and collective well-being. Participants in the program may receive certifications that could provide preferential treatment in hiring, grant applications, and service procurement. The bill ultimately aims to address growing political polarization by fostering a more collaborative, values-based approach to civic engagement that reflects Hawaii's cultural traditions of mutual understanding and collective responsibility.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1631&year=2026