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HR 69

ENCOURAGING THE HAWAIʻI STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN EDUCATION TO CREATE AND CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ESTABLISH A K-12 HAWAIIAN IMMERSION CAMPUS IN WEST OʻAHU.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Diamond Garcia and 1 co-sponsor

Bill requests Hawaii's Department of Education establish a working group to plan a K-12 Hawaiian immersion school campus in West Oʻahu to expand Native Hawaiian cultural and language education access.

Referred to EDN/JHA, FIN, referral sheet 18
#hawaiianimmersion #k-12campus #kaiapuni #westoahu #workinggroup
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Bill Summary · HR 69

Legislative bill overview

HR 69 encourages Hawaii's Department of Education to collaborate with the Office of Hawaiian Education to form a working group tasked with establishing a K-12 Hawaiian immersion campus in West Oʻahu. The bill seeks to create a comprehensive educational facility where students would learn primarily through the Hawaiian language and cultural framework. This is a legislative request rather than a mandate, giving the agencies discretion in implementation.

Why is this important

Hawaiian language immersion programs address historical suppression of Native Hawaiian culture and language, which nearly disappeared during the 20th century. Establishing a full K-12 campus in West Oʻahu—a rapidly growing area with limited Hawaiian-focused educational options—would expand access to culturally grounded education for Native Hawaiian families. Such programs demonstrate measurable academic benefits while strengthening cultural preservation and community identity.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and resource allocation: Establishing a new K-12 campus requires significant infrastructure, staffing, and operational funding during a period of constrained education budgets; unclear who bears these costs
  • Educator availability: Hawaiian language immersion requires fluent Hawaiian-speaking teachers, and there is currently a shortage of qualified educators in Hawaii
  • Voluntary vs. mandatory participation: Questions remain about enrollment criteria—whether slots prioritize Native Hawaiian students or remain open to all, and how this affects existing Hawaiian immersion programs elsewhere
  • Implementation timeline: The bill only authorizes a working group to study feasibility, with no guaranteed funding or construction timeline

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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