Hawaii middle schoolers prompt Indigenous Peoples’ Day bill
The latest version of Senate Bill 732 proposes a new state holiday called Indigenous Peoples’ Day to be observed on the second Monday of October while dropping Election Day from the list.
The bill, which crossed over to the House of Representatives on March 7, aims to educate the community on the state’s obligation to its original inhabitants and recognize the importance of the protection and revival of Indigenous cultures.
A similar bill previously failed to advance at the Legislature, and state Sen. Dru Kanuha (D, Kona-Kau- Volcano) said he decided to reintroduce another measure after a middle school civics teacher reached out to him in October on behalf of her students.
