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 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,
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____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair |
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