[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S448-S450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Reid, Mr. 
        Stevens, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
        Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. 
        Lincoln, Mr. Lott, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. 
        Reed, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Specter, and Mrs. Dole):
  S. 259. A bill to authorize the establishment of the Henry Kuualoha 
Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives at the University of Hawaii; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am introducing with my dear friend, the 
senior Senator from Hawaii, Dan Inouye, and several of our colleagues 
from both sides of the aisle, a bill paying tribute to one of this 
body's most loyal servants. The Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna Memorial 
Archives bill honors Henry K. Giugni, our former Sergeant-at-Arms of 
the U.S. Senate, through the establishment of cultural and historical 
digital archives. Mr. Giugni would have turned 82 today, if he were 
still alive. These archives will enable the sharing and perpetuation of 
the culture, collective memory, and history of peoples Mr. Giugni so 
dearly loved.
  As many of my colleagues are aware, Henry was a man full of life and 
loyalty who served our country with distinction. He enlisted in the 
U.S. Army at the age of 16 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During 
World War II he served in combat at the battle of Guadalcanal. 
Following World War II, he continued to serve the State of Hawaii and 
our Nation by working as a police officer and firefighter. After nearly 
a decade of service with Senator Inouye in the Hawaii territorial 
legislature, he came to Washington, DC, as the senior Senator's senior 
executive assistant and then chief of staff for more than 20 years. Mr. 
Giugni was appointed in 1987 to serve as Sergeant-at-Arms of our 
revered body--a position that each of my colleagues and I know as 
crucial to the running of the Senate.
  Henry also sought to tear down barriers in society. In 1965 it was 
Mr. Giugni who represented Senator Inouye's office, and thus the people 
of Hawaii, in the famous 1965 Selma to Montgomery civil rights march 
led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As Senator Inouye's chief of staff, 
Mr. Giugni served as a vital link between the Senator's office and 
minority groups. He was the first person of color and the first Native 
Hawaiian to be appointed Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. In this influential 
position, he sought out capable minorities and women for promotion to 
ensure that our workforce reflects America. He appointed the first 
minority, an African-American, to lead the Service Department, and was 
the first to assign women to the Capitol Police plainclothes unit. 
Because of his concern about people with disabilities, Mr. Giugni 
enacted a major expansion of the Special Services Office, which now 
conducts tours of the U.S. Capitol for the blind, deaf, and wheelchair-
bound, and publishes Senate maps and documents in Braille.
  Further in his capacity as Sergeant-at-Arms, Henry was the chief law 
enforcement officer of the U.S. Senate and an able manager of a 
majority of the Senate's support services. He oversaw a budget of 
nearly $120 million and approximately 2,000 employees. As Sergeant-at-
Arms, Mr. Giugni presided over the inauguration of President George 
H.W. Bush, and escorted numerous dignitaries on their visits to the 
U.S. Capitol, including Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, and Vaclav 
Havel.
  Establishing the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Memorial Archives would be a 
poignant and appropriate way to honor our loyal friend, colleague, and 
fellow American, as well as his dear wife Lani, who recently followed 
him to the great beyond. Henry lived a life full of rich experiences, 
and along the way he accumulated a wealth of wisdom. His memory and 
spirit live on, but it is essential we perpetuate his wisdom and

[[Page S449]]

experiences, and those of others like him, so what was learned and 
accomplished will not be lost to future generations. This is the 
primary impetus behind creating these archives. There is a dearth of 
physical archives, museums, or libraries devoted to preserving and 
perpetuating the history, culture, achievements and collective 
narratives of indigenous peoples. As one generation passes, a wealth of 
traditional knowledge could be lost forever. Establishing these 
archives to perpetuate the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples 
such as Henry will ensure that future generations have access to that 
widsom and, in a sense, will be able to learn from the original sources 
themselves.

  The development of the Internet in managing knowledge in electronic 
format has enabled the most pervasive storing and sharing of 
information the world has ever seen. Electronic, digital archives would 
facilitate the sharing, preservation and perpetuation of the unique 
native culture, language, tradition and history. These archives will be 
a source of enduring knowledge, accessible to all. It will help to 
ensure that the children of today and tomorrow will not be deprived of 
the rich culture, history and collective knowledge of indigenous 
peoples. These archives will help to guarantee that the experiences, 
wisdom and knowledge of kupuna, or elders such as Henry, will not be 
lost to future generations.
  The first section of the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Memorial Archives bill 
authorizes a grant awarded to the University of Hawaii's Academy for 
Creative Media for the establishment, maintenance and update of the 
archives which are to be located at the University of Hawaii. These 
funds would be used to enable a statewide archival effort which will 
include the acquisition of a secure, web-accessible repository that 
will house significant historical and cultural information. This 
information may include oral histories, collective narratives, 
photographs, video files, journals, creative works and documentation of 
practices and customs such as traditional dance and traditional music 
that were used to convey historical and cultural knowledge in the 
absence of written language. The funds will enable this important 
effort by assisting in the purchasing of equipment, hiring of 
personnel, and establishment of space for the collection and transfer 
of media, housing the archives, and creating this in-depth database.
  The second section of this bill authorizes the use of these grant 
funds for several different educational activities, many of which are 
intended to magnify the resourcefulness of these archives and benefit 
the student populations who will likely access the archives the most. 
This includes the development of educational materials from the 
archives that can be used in teaching indigenous students. Despite 
their focus, these materials are meant to enhance the education of all 
students, even students from non-native backgrounds. This also includes 
developing outreach initiatives to introduce the archives to elementary 
and secondary schools, and as enabling schools to access the archives 
through the computer.
  Grant funds would also be available to help make a college education 
possible for students who otherwise could not independently afford such 
an education through scholarship awards. Additionally, funds can be 
used to address the problem of cultural incongruence in teaching, an 
issue that impedes effective learning in our Nation's classrooms. Such 
a lack of congruence exists in a wide range of situations, from rural 
and underserved communities in remote areas to well-populated urban 
centers, from my State of Hawaii to areas on the eastern seaboard. The 
dynamic I am describing exists along lines of race and ethnicity, 
socioeconomic strata, age, and many other vectors, which can muddy the 
effective transmission of knowledge. Many of us, especially those from 
rural, indigenous, or ethnic minority backgrounds, including Henry 
Giugni, have experienced barriers to learning as we have worked our way 
through the education system. This bill seeks to improve student 
achievement by addressing cultural incongruence between teachers and 
the student population. This will be accomplished by providing 
professional development training to teachers, enabling them to better 
communicate with their students.
  Finally, as financial illiteracy is a growing problem, especially 
among college age youth who are exposed to a variety of financial 
products, funds can be used to increase the economic and financial 
literacy of college students. This will be accomplished through the 
propagation of proven best practices that have resulted in positive 
behavioral change in regards to improved debt and credit management, 
and economic decision making. Such activities can help to ensure that 
students stay in school, graduate in a better financial position, and 
remain disciplined in effectively managing their finances throughout 
their working and retirement years.
  Henry K. Giugni served among us with distinction and honor. I am very 
grateful to have known him and his family. I encourage all of my 
colleagues to perpetuate his memory by supporting the Henry Kuualoha 
Giugni Memorial Archives bill. These archives are the most fitting way 
we can honor and remember our friend and dear public servant, Henry 
Kuualoha Giugni.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record and that support letters from University of Hawaii President 
David McClain and Academy for Creative Media Director Christopher Lee 
also be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 259

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. HENRY KUUALOHA GIUGNI KUPUNA MEMORIAL ARCHIVES.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is 
     authorized to award a grant to the University of Hawaii 
     Academy for Creative Media for the establishment, 
     maintenance, and periodic modernization of the Henry Kuualoha 
     Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives at the University of Hawaii.
       (b) Use of Funds.--The Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna 
     Memorial Archives shall use the grant funds received under 
     this section--
       (1) to facilitate the acquisition of a secure web 
     accessible repository of Native Hawaiian historical data rich 
     in ethnic and cultural significance to our Nation for 
     preservation and access by future generations;
       (2) to award scholarships to facilitate access to a college 
     education for students who can not independently afford such 
     education;
       (3) to support programmatic efforts associated with the 
     web-based media projects of the archives;
       (4) to create educational materials, from the contents of 
     the archives, that are applicable to a broad range of 
     indigenous students such as Native Hawaiians, Alaskan 
     Natives, and Native American Indians;
       (5) to develop outreach initiatives that introduce the 
     archival collections to elementary schools and secondary 
     schools;
       (6) to develop supplemental web-based resources that define 
     terms and cultural practices innate to Native Hawaiians;
       (7) to rent, lease, purchase, maintain, or repair 
     educational facilities to house the archival collections;
       (8) to rent, lease, purchase, maintain, or repair computer 
     equipment for use by elementary schools and secondary schools 
     in accessing the archival collections;
       (9) to provide pre-service and in-service teacher training 
     to develop a core group of kindergarten through grade 12 
     teachers who are able to provide instruction in a way that is 
     culturally congruent with the learning modalities of the 
     kindergarten, elementary school, or secondary school students 
     the teachers are teaching, particularly indigenous students 
     such as Native Hawaiians, Alaskan Natives, and Native 
     American Indians, in order to--
       (A) ameliorate the lack of cultural congruence between the 
     teachers and the students the teachers teach; and
       (B) improve student achievement; and
       (10) to increase the economic and financial literacy of 
     college students through the proliferation of proven best 
     practices used at other institutions of higher education that 
     result in positive behavioral change toward improved debt and 
     credit management and economic decision making.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2007, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such 
     sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 
     through 2012.
                                  ____



                                        University of Hawai`i,

                                     Honolulu, HI, August 3, 2006.
     Hon. Daniel K. Akaka,
     U.S. Senator, State of Hawai`i, Hart Senate Office Building, 
         Washington DC.
       Dear Senator Akaka: The University of Hawai`i is proud to 
     support the establishment of the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna 
     Memorial Archives as detailed in the Senate Bill reviewed 
     with your staff during my June 2006 visit to Washington, D.C. 
     As you know, Henry Giugni was a great friend of the 
     University of Hawai`i. We were honored to be

[[Page S450]]

     able to award him an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters 
     from the University of Hawai`i in 2003.
       Please add the University of Hawai`i to the growing list of 
     many friends and congressional co-sponsors who have joined 
     with you and Senator Inouye to pay appropriate tribute to a 
     great Hawaiian and a worthy advocate for minorities in 
     government--Henry Kuualoha Giugni. Thank you for this 
     opportunity to express our support for one who was so 
     important to our University `ohana.
           With best wishes and Aloha,
                                                    David McClain,
     President.
                                  ____

                                            University of Hawai`i,


                                   Academy for Creative Media,

                                    Honolulu, HI, August 21, 2006.
     Hon. Daniel K. Akaka,
     U.S. Senator, State of Hawai`i, Hart Senate Office Building 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Akaka: The Academy for Creative Media at the 
     University of Hawai`i at Manoa is proud to support, and 
     honored to be designated as the primary home for the 
     establishment of the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna Memorial 
     Archives.
       As you know, there is an exciting visual history of Hawai`i 
     that has yet to be collected, documented and archived for the 
     benefit of historians, teachers, students, and all people who 
     embrace the Spirit of Aloha. This is a people's history and 
     archive that will tap deeply into the diversity and 
     multiculturalism of our state.
       Unfortunately, much of this rich treasure of moving images 
     on film and video tape is deteriorating with age and cries 
     out to be permanently preserved in a digital archive where it 
     can be readily and interactively accessed by all.
       The establishment of the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna 
     Memorial Archives will enable the creation of a plethora of 
     illustrated oral histories of our beloved elders, create 
     educational programs which can be used to bridge 
     intercultural gaps while embracing an ever wider 
     multicultural society, and empower new generations by 
     grounding them in the richness of values, as reflected by Mr. 
     Giugni, that has defined Hawai'i as the Aloha State.
       The Academy for Creative Media stands ready to make this 
     Archive a primary educational center and resource, a living 
     tribute to Henry Kuualoha Giugni and the people of Hawai`i.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Christopher Lee,
                                                         Director.

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I join my partner from Hawaii, 
Senator Akaka, and other esteemed colleagues, in lending my support to 
the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives Bill. I offer my 
support today, on this, the eleventh day of January, Henry's birthday, 
to herald the significant role that the establishment of these archives 
will play in shaping the future of a new generation of Americans, just 
as Henry did during his remarkable tenure as the 30th Sergeant-at-Arms 
of the United States Senate.
  In addition to creating a digital archive and preserving the 
traditions and culture of Native Hawaiians, this bill will support 
initiatives critical to the development of Web-based media projects and 
the creation of educational materials that will richly enhance the 
educational experience for countless students.
  It is my hope that the establishment of these archives will inspire 
greater academic achievement of indigenous students by sharing with 
them the stories and histories of accomplished individuals with 
indigenous backgrounds, such as Henry.
                                 ______