Report Title:

Hawaiian Language

 

Description:

Requires the use of macrons and glottal stops in spelling words in the Hawaiian language to be used in county and state government documents.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1518

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the hawaiian language.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. By law, there are two official languages in this State: English and Hawaiian. The orthography developed by scholars at the University of Hawai'i includes the use of macrons and glottal stops in the spelling of the Hawaiian language. These symbols are commonly used in local publications and by the counties in signs for streets with Hawaiian names.

Despite the widespread use of macrons and glottal stops in spelling words in the Hawaiian language, there has been no official mandate for their use. The inclusion of these

symbols has a broader purpose than simply aiding the pronunciation of Hawaiian terms. Because the glottal stop is a consonant in the Hawaiian language, leaving it out changes the meaning of a word. The legislature also finds that written documents that properly spell Hawaiian words with the appropriate macrons and glottal stops aid in the correct pronunciation of those words and can help to preserve the Hawaiian language and the culture of the people of this State.

The purpose of this Act 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 the state or county departments, agencies, and officials.

SECTION 2. Section 1-13.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§1-13.5[]] Hawaiian language; spelling. Macrons and glottal stops [may] shall be used in the spelling of words or terms in the Hawaiian language in documents prepared by or for state or county agencies or officials. Any rule, order, policy, or other act, official or otherwise, that prohibits or discourages the use of these symbols shall be void."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________