STAND. COM. REP. NO.  37

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 109

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 109 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to fully comport with the intent and purpose of the State Constitution by:

     (1)  Designating the month of February as "Olelo Hawaii Month" to celebrate and encourage the use of the Hawaiian language;

     (2)  Requiring that all letterheads, documents, symbols, and emblems of the State and its political subdivisions include accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and words; and

     (3)  Establishing references for accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and words, including proper spelling and punctuation.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and a few individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General and the Legislative Reference Bureau provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the provisions establishing February as "Olelo Hawaii Month" to celebrate and encourage the use of the Hawaiian language; and

     (2)  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 Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 109, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 109, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair