HB1203 • 2026

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION EDUCATION.

Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: REYES ODA
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact amount of funding or the duration beyond the first two fiscal years mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Funding for Hawaiian Language Immersion School

This bill provides funding to the Department of Education to establish a new Hawaiian language immersion school in the Leeward area of Oahu, open to students from kindergarten through grade 12.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates money to create a new Hawaiian language immersion school on Oahu's Leeward side.
The school will be available for all grades from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Who It Names or Affects

Students in the Leeward area of Oahu who want to attend a Hawaiian language immersion school.
The Department of Education, which will use the funds to set up the new school.

Terms To Know

Hawaiian Language Immersion: A type of education where students learn in and through the Hawaiian language.
Leeward Area: The western side of Oahu, which includes places like Waianae and Nanakuli.

Limits and Unknowns

It is not clear how much money will be provided for the school.
This bill only funds the establishment of one new Hawaiian language immersion school in a specific area.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-22 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION EDUCATION.
DOE; Hawaiian Language Immersion Education; Oahu; Leeward ($)
Appropriate moneys to the Department of Education to establish a Hawaiian language immersion school, open to students in grades kindergarten through 12, that is located in the Leeward area of the island of Oahu.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1203

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1203

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION EDUCATION
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature recognizes that Article
X, section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii requires the State to
"promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history and language", and
also requires the State to "provide for a Hawaiian education program
consisting of language, culture and history in the public schools".
�
The legislature finds that the department of education
has implemented a Hawaiian language immersion program, but the only immersion
school on the island of Oahu that is open to students in grades kindergarten
through twelve is located in Palolo.

����
The
legislature also finds that at present, the leeward area of the island of Oahu
does not have a similar immersion school, despite census data indicating that
the area has the largest number of native Hawaiian residents in the State.
�
Consequently, many students in the Leeward
area need to leave home at 5:00 a.m. to attend a Hawaiian language immersion
school, and are unable to return home to their families until late in the
evening.
�
This shortage of Hawaiian
language immersion schools makes Hawaiian language immersion unattainable for
many families that rely on their children to assist in the care of siblings or
other family members, or otherwise provide for their households.
�
This situation demonstrates that the State is
currently failing to fulfill its duties under Article X, section 4 of the
Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to establish a Hawaiian
language immersion school, open to students in grades kindergarten through
twelve, that is located in the leeward area of the island of Oahu.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
�����������
or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of education to
establish a Hawaiian language immersion school, open to students in grades
kindergarten through twelve, that is located in the leeward area of the island
of Oahu.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the department
of education for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE; Hawaiian
Language Immersion Education; Oahu; Leeward

Description:

Appropriate
moneys to the Department of Education to establish a Hawaiian language
immersion school, open to students in grades kindergarten through 12, that is
located in the Leeward area of the island of Oahu.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.