To correct disparities between the racial and ethnic composition of its administrative and teaching staff and that of the state's population, the Hawaii Department of Education (which operates Hawaii's public school system) adopted an affirmative action plan in 1976. As shown by the department's progress reports for 1977-82, this plan has had little effect; unrevised since 1976, it is based on outdated census figures. In 1975 a number of groups, especially Filipinos and whites, were underrepresented in the department staff, while Japanese were overrepresented. Yet, from 1976-77 to 1981-82, the staff composition changed only slightly. Moreover, the department's Affirmative Action Advisory Council (AAAC), as of 1982, had not met for 2 years. The Hawaii Board of Education should seek advice from the AAAC and other established advisory groups to produce a successful affirmative action program. Appended to this report are four tables of data. (MCG)