SR 190 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONSIDER OFFERING OLELO HAWAII MICRO-CREDENTIALS FOCUSING ON THE NIIHAU DIALECT.

This Senate Resolution requests the University of Hawaii to create a specific pathway for studying the Niihau dialect of the Hawaiian language. The bill recognizes that the Niihau community has preserved a distinct version of Hawaiian that differs from the dialects used in mainstream immersion schools and other educational settings. It aims to formally acknowledge the unique linguistic heritage of Niihau speakers and ensure their specific language needs are addressed within higher education. The resolution directs a copy of this request to the President of the University of Hawaii System for consideration.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SR190 → SR190_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was reclassified from a House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) to a Senate Memorial (SMA) and updated with new dates and identifiers. The core policy change shifts the request to the University of Hawaii from asking them to 'allow' a specific pathway to asking them to 'consider offering' micro-credentials focused on the Niihau dialect. The text also corrects a typo in the community name from 'Niihua' to 'Niihau' and clarifies that state agencies provide interpreters to 'health care providers.'

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a House resolution to a Senate memorial, and the requested action was broadened from a mandatory 'allowance' of a pathway to a discretionary 'consideration' of micro-credentials.

SCOPE

The bill type changed from HCR to SMA, and the legislative body changed from the House to the Senate.

REQUIREMENT

The request to the University of Hawaii was changed from requiring them to 'allow' a pathway to asking them to 'consider offering' micro-credentials.

The description of state agency support was updated to specify that interpreters facilitate communication with 'health care providers' instead of just 'health providers'.

DEFINITION

A typo in the community name was corrected from 'Niihua' to 'Niihau' in multiple sections.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from EDU/HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3607) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Keohokalole.

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU/HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 04-08-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU/HWN.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor