Hawaii education committees advance school-focused resolutions on career pathways, climate education, farm-to-school and heat safety; several measures amended

The House Committee on Education, meeting jointly with the House Committee on Higher Education on March 20 in Committee Room 309, heard testimony and took action on a package of concurrent resolutions addressing career pathways in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, school facility access, civics and climate education, farm-to-school procurement, student journalism, capital project audits, school meal cost transparency, autism surveillance planning, heat-exposure study requests and related items.

The committees passed or moved forward with amendments a number of measures after testimony from Department of Education officials, University of Hawaii representatives, nonprofit advocates, students and other stakeholders. Several proposals were changed in response to testimony from the Attorney General’s office or the Department of Education to narrow scope or adjust implementation steps.

Why it matters: The resolutions collectively aim to shape DOE practice and reporting—requesting assessments, website posting of resources, reports to the Legislature, audits, and studies—rather than imposing new statute. Many items focus on student health, local food procurement and workforce pathways that could affect program priorities, budgets and interagency work.

What the committees heard and decided

- Career pathways in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity (HCR75 / HR67): The committees heard in-person testimony from Teri Ushijima, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Design (Department of Education), and Deborah Halbert, Vice President for Academic Strategy (University of Hawaii). The University described existing degree programs at community colleges and four-year campuses tied to cybersecurity and material sciences, plus emerging efforts to integrate entrepreneurship with advanced manufacturing. The joint committee voted to pass HCR75/HR67 "as is." The committees recorded no further required statutory action in this session; both resolutions were adopted for follow-up by DOE and the University.

- Shared use of school recreational facilities (HCR46 / HR39): The Department of Education described its current Use of Facilities agreements, which require certificates of insurance, indemnification and other safeguards for outside organizations. The Attorney General testified in opposition, citing potential legal and financial liability from unrestricted public access. The committees deferred HCR46/HR39 (the chair indicated deferral based on the AG testimony) but confirmed intent to continue exploring shared-use agreements with legal safeguards for underserved communities.

- Aloha civics and related reporting (HCR86 / HR80): DOE Assistant Superintendent Teri Ushijima described a civic learning and engagement task force that produced recommendations to inventory partnerships, integrate civic learning across grades and align with the department’s learner outcomes emphasizing belonging, responsibility and aloha. The committees approved an amended HD1 that removed a separate statutory working group and instead requests a DOE report on how the department is implementing the task force recommendations and integrating the Aloha Spirit into civics education before the 2026 regular session.

- Annual Climate Week (HCR87 / HR81): Testimony from the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Future Forum youth speakers and other advocates emphasized climate-related health risks, food security and student engagement. DOE submitted written comments noting existing programs. The committees voted to pass the resolution (committee report indicated passage with amendments or as-refined language as noted in the record).

- Gun-safety information for students (HCR95 / HR91): DOE asked for clarification about the intended outcome of the resolution. Committee discussion led to an amendment (HD1) instructing DOE to post information and resources on gun-safety and storage law on the DOE website rather than requiring distribution directly to students; the committees passed the amended measure.

- Farm-to-school strengthening (HCR104 / HR100): DOE and University of Hawaii faculty (Parvinder Grewal, Dean, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources) and student advocates testified about gaps between policy goals and current local procurement. Testimony cited Hawaii’s statutory goal (Act 135) of 30% local school-food procurement by 2030 and noted DOE’s recent local procurement was approximately 5% (testimony referenced a recent Civil Beat article). The resolution passed as is; DOE described near-term steps to update menus, coordinate with distributors per island and provide predictable demand signals to farmers.

- Support for scholastic journalism (HCR109 / HR105): Student advisers and free-press organizations testified in support, asking DOE to remove or revise parental-consent requirements that advisers say hinder student reporting. DOE said it is reviewing documents and training materials. Committees passed the resolution with HD1 adding a deadline for DOE action (no later than Dec. 31, 2025) and technical edits.

- Audit of capital improvement project finances (HCR110 / HR106): The committees voted to request the auditor review DOE capital improvement project finances; DOE provided written comments. The resolution passed as recorded.

- Report on the true cost of producing school meals (HCR111 / HR107): Public-health and hunger-advocacy groups urged a transparent report on meal production costs after DOE previously proposed a large price increase. The committees passed the resolution requesting DOE to report to the Legislature with detail on production costs.

- Autism prevalence surveillance planning (HCR145 / HR139): Testimony from disability advocates and parents emphasized a lack of local CDC surveillance data and urged planning to pursue CDC funding/participation in prevalence surveillance. DOE, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and others supported the measure, which the committee passed.

- Heat-exposure study for outdoor student activities (HCR186 / HR179): Health and climate advocates urged study of wet-bulb globe-temperature standards, heat-management practices and feasibility/costs for schools to protect students during outdoor activities; DOE, Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission supported the resolution. The committees passed the resolution as recorded.

Votes at a glance (committee action recorded in the hearing): - HCR75 / HR67 (advanced manufacturing & cybersecurity): Passed (recommendation adopted). - HCR46 / HR39 (shared use of facilities): Deferred for further work (deferral noted based on AG testimony). - HCR86 / HR80 (Aloha civics reporting; HD1): Passed with amendments (HD1). - HCR87 / HR81 (annual Climate Week): Passed (committee adopted measure). - HCR95 / HR91 (gun-safety information): Passed with HD1 (DOE to post resources on DOE website). - HCR104 / HR100 (farm to school): Passed (committee adopted measure). - HCR109 / HR105 (scholastic journalism): Passed with HD1 (deadline added and technical edits). - HCR110 / HR106 (audit CIP finances): Passed (committee adopted measure). - HCR111 / HR107 (school meal cost report): Passed (committee adopted measure). - HCR145 / HR139 (autism surveillance planning): Passed (committee adopted measure). - HCR186 / HR179 (heat exposure study): Passed (committee adopted measure).

What’s next: Most adopted resolutions direct DOE to report, post resources, or coordinate studies and audits rather than creating immediate statutory mandates. Several items (shared-use and some programmatic clarifications) were amended or deferred to address liability, feasibility and implementation concerns raised by the Attorney General and DOE.

Speakers quoted or referenced in committee record include DOE Assistant Superintendent Teri Ushijima; Deborah Halbert, Vice President for Academic Strategy (University of Hawaii); Cameron Hurt, State Director (Common Cause Hawaii); James McAllen (Climate Change and Health Working Group); students Mia Nishiguchi (Kalani High School) and Vivian Hill (Hawaii Youth Food Council); Parvinder Grewal (Dean, CTAHR); Cindy Reeves (student-journalism adviser); Nate Hicks and Genevieve Mama (public-health / hunger advocates); Kinau Gardner (Assistant Superintendent, Office of Student Support Services); and representatives of the Attorney General’s office. The committee also received written testimony from many organizations including the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, Climate Future Forum, Hawaii Food Council, Hawaii Public Health Institute and others.

Ending note: The committee clarified several measures to align with legal safeguards and implementation reality (for example, directing online posting of gun-safety resources rather than mandatory student distribution, and replacing a proposed new working group with a DOE report on task-force implementation). The committee’s actions will lead to further DOE reports, interagency work and potential audit follow-ups.