Bill > HB1491

This bill, known as the "Education for Sustainability and Cultural Competency Act," aims to comprehensively integrate climate education, environmental sustainability, and indigenous knowledge into Hawaii's public education system from K-12 through higher education. For K-12 schools, the Department of Education must develop a statewide curriculum that includes hands-on and place-based learning about climate and sustainability, with a specific focus on traditional Hawaiian ecological practices and involving local cultural practitioners. The bill requires the department to create teacher training programs to help educators effectively teach these subjects and to conduct annual sustainability audits of school campuses. For the University of Hawaii system, the bill mandates that every student must complete a series of climate education and environmental sustainability courses before graduation, regardless of their major. The university must also establish sustainability practices across all campuses, such as creating living laboratories for studying renewable energy and sustainable practices, and conducting annual sustainability audits. The underlying purpose is to prepare students to address Hawaii's ecological challenges, uphold cultural stewardship, and align the education system with the principles of aloha ?aina (love for the land), ultimately helping students engage with and mitigate climate change while fostering cultural competency.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1491&year=2025