Requires that all publications, signage, or other items produced by the State exempts correctly spell Hawai‘i by including a glottal stop; exempts publications, signage, or other items existing before the active date of this Act.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaiian language was established by law as the native language of Hawai‘i more than twenty-five years ago. Despite this law, numerous publications, signs, and other items produced by the State of Hawai‘i continue to incorrectly spell our own state name by omitting the glottal stop required in the word Hawai‘i.

The purpose of this Act is to ensure the correct spelling of the word Hawai‘i by requiring that the glottal stop be included in any publication, sign, and other item produced by the State after the effective date of this Act.

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

"[[]§1-13.5[]] Hawaiian language; spelling. (a) Macrons and glottal stops may 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[.]; provided that the word Hawai‘i shall be properly spelled to include the required glottal stop in any publication, signage, or other item produced by the State after the effective date of this section. This requirement shall not apply to signs, publications, or other items produced by the State before the effective date of this section, until such time that they are updated or otherwise replaced.

(b) Any rule, order, policy, or other act, official or otherwise, that prohibits or discourages the use of [these symbols] macrons and glottal stops shall be void."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.