SB 2877HawaiiProcess complete

Kalihi fifth graders would write and publish books about local culture

For one year, fifth graders at Kalihi public elementary schools would write and illustrate books about Hawaiian culture or their community.

What it does

Fifth graders at Kalihi public elementary schools would write and illustrate books about Hawaiian culture or their community. The department would arrange for the books to be printed and returned.

The department would report on how the program worked, student outcomes, and whether it could continue or expand.

The bill would set aside an unspecified amount of state money for the department to establish the program.

Argument forStudents could build writing and art skills by making books about Hawaiian culture or their local community.

Argument againstStudents may have less say in what they write about or how long their books are because teachers choose topics and the department sets book length and size.

More detail

The Department of Education would run a one-year book-making program for fifth graders. The program would serve fifth graders at Kalihi public elementary schools. Teachers would choose a class topic about Hawaiian culture or the local community, and students would write and illustrate books about it. Book size and length would depend on available funds. The department would hire a third party under state purchasing rules to collect, print, bind, and return the books. The program would last one year. The bill text says the act would take effect July 1, 2026.

The Department of Education would report on the program to the legislature. The report would cover the student book program at Kalihi public elementary schools. The report would assess how the program was carried out, student outcomes, and whether it could continue or expand. It would also include findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation. The report would be due no later than 20 days before the 2028 regular legislative session.

The bill would set aside state revenue for the Department of Education to establish the program. The money would go to the Department of Education for the student book program. The bill text leaves the dollar amount blank and says to use only as much as may be needed. The appropriation would be for fiscal year 2026–2027.

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More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 23
Passed SenateMar 6
Passed HouseApr 9
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 244, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1346).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 244, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1346).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
9. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) La Chica, Lee, M.; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 135-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 135-26) as amended in (CD 1).
13. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
15. Apr 29Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 1:37PM in conference room 229.
16. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 27Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229.
18. Apr 23Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 4:15PM; Conference Room 229.
19. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Kidani Co-Chair; Hashimoto, DeCorte.
20. Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).Minor
21. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: La Chica, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
22. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
23. Apr 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 523).Minor
24. Apr 10Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
25. Apr 10Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).Minor
26. Apr 9Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2011-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
27. Apr 9Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
28. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
29. Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
30. Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
32. Mar 30Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1509-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
33. Mar 30Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Shimizu voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
34. Mar 24The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett, Kila.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 03-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
36. Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
37. Mar 10Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
38. Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
39. Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 84) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
40. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2764) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
41. Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
42. Mar 2The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
43. Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-02-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
44. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
45. Feb 18Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2337) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
46. Feb 18Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
47. Feb 11The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
48. Feb 6The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
49. Jan 30Referred to EDU, WAM.Minor
50. Jan 26Passed First Reading.Minor
51. Jan 23Introduced.Introduced

Education

Issue with this bill?

SB 2877HawaiiProcess complete

Kalihi fifth graders would write and publish books about local culture

For one year, fifth graders at Kalihi public elementary schools would write and illustrate books about Hawaiian culture or their community.

What it does

Fifth graders at Kalihi public elementary schools would write and illustrate books about Hawaiian culture or their community. The department would arrange for the books to be printed and returned.

The department would report on how the program worked, student outcomes, and whether it could continue or expand.

The bill would set aside an unspecified amount of state money for the department to establish the program.

Argument forStudents could build writing and art skills by making books about Hawaiian culture or their local community.

Argument againstStudents may have less say in what they write about or how long their books are because teachers choose topics and the department sets book length and size.

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 23
Passed SenateMar 6
Passed HouseApr 9
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 244, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1346).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 244, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1346).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
9. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) La Chica, Lee, M.; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 135-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 135-26) as amended in (CD 1).
13. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
15. Apr 29Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 1:37PM in conference room 229.
16. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 27Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229.
18. Apr 23Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 4:15PM; Conference Room 229.
19. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Kidani Co-Chair; Hashimoto, DeCorte.
20. Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).Minor
21. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: La Chica, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
22. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
23. Apr 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 523).Minor
24. Apr 10Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
25. Apr 10Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).Minor
26. Apr 9Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2011-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
27. Apr 9Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
28. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
29. Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
30. Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
32. Mar 30Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1509-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
33. Mar 30Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Shimizu voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
34. Mar 24The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett, Kila.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 03-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
36. Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
37. Mar 10Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
38. Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
39. Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 84) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
40. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2764) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
41. Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
42. Mar 2The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
43. Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-02-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
44. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
45. Feb 18Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2337) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
46. Feb 18Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
47. Feb 11The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
48. Feb 6The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
49. Jan 30Referred to EDU, WAM.Minor
50. Jan 26Passed First Reading.Minor
51. Jan 23Introduced.Introduced

Education

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History

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Where it stands

Looking ahead

History