Education (K-12 Education) in Hawaii

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

GM 1102: Informing the Legislature that on March 27, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB3123 SD1 (ACT 002).

This bill clarifies that private scholarships and educational awards are considered conditional gifts rather than contractual obligations, unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing. It directly affects private pre-K through K-12 schools, students, donors, and families receiving educational support in Hawaii. The law allows schools to set eligibility criteria like academic performance and conduct standards without creating legal liability for terminating awards if conditions aren't met. This change aims to encourage charitable giving by removing uncertainty about legal claims while maintaining flexibility for donors and institutions to specify requirements.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 102: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE, TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH LONELINESS AND SOCIAL DISCONNECTION IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address youth loneliness and social disconnection. The program would involve trained student peer counselors who receive standardized instruction in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices to foster peer connections and early identification of emotional distress. The Department of Education would lead implementation in collaboration with the Department of Health, Office of Wellness and Resilience, and Hawaii State Youth Commission, starting with pilot programs in select schools before statewide rollout. The resolution emphasizes face-to-face interaction, trust-building activities, and clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals while prioritizing culturally appropriate approaches for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 38: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MEET THE CRITERIA NECESSARY TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE CHEERLEADING AS A TITLE IX SPORT IN HAWAII.

This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport, which would grant high school cheer athletes the same resources and protections as other varsity sports. The resolution requests that the state education department develop guidelines and safety standards in collaboration with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to meet federal criteria for classifying cheerleading as a sport. By doing so, the bill aims to ensure equitable access to certified coaching, athletic training, facilities, and transportation for female cheerleaders while promoting gender equity in school athletics. This is a non-binding resolution that calls for administrative action rather than creating new laws.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 202: CONGRATULATING THE 2025 LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR, 2025 MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, 2026 SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR NATIONAL FINALIST, 2026 LEILEHUA-MILILANI-WAIALUA COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND 2026 ʻAIEA-MOANALUA-RADFORD COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

This House Resolution congratulates five educators in Hawaii who have been recognized for their achievements in 2025 and 2026. The bill formally acknowledges Matthew Brown as the 2025 Librarian of the Year, Jacquelyn McCandless as the 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year, Leka Anitema as a 2026 School Counselor of the Year national finalist, and Christopher Justo as the 2026 Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area Teacher of the Year. The resolution also recognizes the 2026 Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area Teacher of the Year, though that individual is not named in the provided text. These individuals are being honored for their leadership and contributions to education and library services across Hawaii.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Libraries Teachers

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 52: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REQUIRE ONE YEAR OF HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

This bill is a Senate Concurrent Resolution that requests the Hawaii Department of Education to make one year of Hawaiian language instruction a mandatory graduation requirement for all public school students. The resolution is based on the state's constitutional designation of Hawaiian as an official language and aims to support language revitalization efforts that have previously helped increase fluent speakers. It does not change existing law directly but formally asks the Department of Education to implement this new requirement as part of its graduation standards. The measure would affect all public high school students in Hawaii by making Hawaiian language study compulsory for graduation.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 153: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A SHARED DECISION MAKING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO ESTABLISH A K-12 KAIAPUNI SCHOOL IN KAPOLEI.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create a committee to plan a new K-12 Hawaiian language immersion school in Kapolei. The bill addresses the current lack of a full K-12 Kaiapuni school in the area, where students must commute to Honolulu for higher grades. The proposed committee would include educators, community members, parents, and administrators to develop an action plan covering facility planning, teacher recruitment, and curriculum development. The plan aims to phase in the school by the 2027-2028 school year, starting with kindergarten through second grade, with additional grades added in subsequent years.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 54: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MILILANI ʻIKE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS USING SCHOOL CROSSWALKS.

This House Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and City and County of Honolulu to improve safety at the Mililani 'Ike Elementary School crosswalk where students face traffic risks. The bill requests specific safety measures including speed bumps, warning signage, and a solar-powered rapid flashing crosswalk sign to alert drivers. It also asks for a "STOP Here for Pedestrians" sign to be installed up to fifty feet before the crosswalk. The resolution is directed at state and local officials to implement these visibility and speed reduction measures at the intersection of Mehe'ula Parkway and Kuao'a Street.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety School Transportation Pedestrian Safety

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 77: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM.

This bill requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's secondary agricultural education program and the Future Farmers of America youth organization. The resolution aims to strengthen agricultural workforce development by encouraging professional development for teachers and expanding educational opportunities in agriculture for high school students. It specifically suggests employing an extension agent at the university to provide outreach and connect best practices to local schools. The bill does not allocate funding but serves as a formal request for collaboration between state agencies and the university to address Hawaii's food security goals.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Workforce Development Tags Agriculture

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 194: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MEET THE CRITERIA NECESSARY TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE CHEERLEADING AS A TITLE IX SPORT IN HAWAII.

This bill is a Senate concurrent resolution that urges Hawaii's Department of Education to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport. It directly affects high school students, coaches, and athletic programs by requesting the state education department to develop guidelines and safety standards that align with federal Title IX requirements for gender equity in athletics. The resolution asks the Department of Education to work with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to establish criteria for classifying cheerleading as a varsity sport, ensuring athletes receive equitable access to resources like certified coaching, training support, and facilities. As a non-binding resolution, it does not mandate immediate changes but serves as a formal recommendation to state officials to evaluate and potentially adopt cheerleading as a recognized interscholastic sport.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 44: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH LONELINESS AND SOCIAL DISCONNECTION IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address loneliness and social disconnection. The bill asks the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience to work together to develop a program that trains students in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices. It emphasizes providing standardized training with clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals while prioritizing face-to-face peer relationships and culturally appropriate approaches. The resolution also requests the Hawaii State Youth Commission to help design and evaluate the program to ensure it meets student needs and maintains cultural responsiveness.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

All education bills