STAND. COM. REP. 66

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1441

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1441 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to formally mandate the use of macrons and glottal stops whenever words or terms in the Hawaiian language are used in documents prepared by state or county departments, agencies, and officials.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that Article XV, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution establishes English and Hawaiian as the official languages of the State of Hawaii. The diacritical marks used in the Hawaiian language are the kahako (macron) and the 'okina (glottal stops) which aid in the proper pronunciation and convey the proper definition of the word. The art of writing Hawaiian words with proper letters, sounds, and pronunciation is critical to its use, understanding, and perpetuation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1441 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

____________________________

EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair