STAND. COM. REP. NO. 519

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1052

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Tourism and Government Operations and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1052 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require that all state and county letterheads, when newly created or reprinted, contain the accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and language printed above the English translations.

     This measure also establishes a Hawaiian Language Interim Task Force to develop an implementation plan to achieve the aims of this measure.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Accounting and General Services.  Comments were received from the State Attorney General.

     Your Committees find that Hawai‘i is the only state in the United States that has a designated native language, Hawaiian, as one of its two official state languages.  The Hawaiian language is a beautiful, flowing tongue, capturing the natural beauty of the Islands in its tones and phrases.  After being suppressed for many years, the Hawaiian language is making a strong revival.  The number of fluent speakers is rising dramatically, and it is not uncommon to hear Hawaiian spoken in public.  Most street names and places are Hawaiian, and it is a sign of respect to the native culture to pronounce and spell Hawaiian words correctly.  This measure is in recognition of that respect.

     Your Committees note that existing law provides for the use of Hawaiian words in official government documents, and that the Hawaii State Constitution provides for the promotion of Hawaiian culture, history, and language.  The Hawaiian language immersion schools and the Hawaiian Culture Program of the Hawaii Tourism Authority are but two of the established Hawaiian language and culture programs, in addition to the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and its Hawaiian Language Center (Hale Kuamo‘o).

     Your Committees view this measure as a recognition of the extent to which the Hawaiian language and culture have been reasserted in all aspects of life in Hawai‘i.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the authentic Hawaiian language requirement does not apply to state artwork or to the hanging state emblems in the rotunda of the state capitol; and

     (2)  Requiring the Hawaiian Language Interim Task Force to report on recommendations to expand the proper usage of the Hawaiian language in government, the community, and the greater society of Hawai‘i.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism and Government Operations and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1052, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1052, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism and Government Operations and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair