STAND. COM. REP. NO.  222

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1357

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1357 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require that the official stationary and website used to designate certain state officials include a Hawaiian translation of the office or department's name.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that as one of the official languages of the State, the Hawaiian language should be prominently featured in the communications of certain state officials in recognition of its importance to the people of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee notes that the first written versions of Hawaiian did not include okinas and kahakōs due to the high literary rates in Hawaiian.  In addition, your Committee notes that some Native Hawaiian speakers still utilize written Hawaiian without the use of okinas and kahakōs and there is sometimes a difference of opinion in the community about the correct and accurate use of okinas and kahakōs.  Accordingly, your Committee does not intend for this measure to set or establish a standard use or non-use of okinas and kahakōs in written Hawaiian.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that this measure is not intended to establish a uniform or standard usage of okina, kahakō, or other diacritical or orthographic marks;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2065, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1357, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1357, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair