STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1077

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 895

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 895, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that the Hawaiian language is appropriately recognized and respected as a co-official language of the State by requiring that all state and county documents and letterhead, as well as all emblems and symbols representative of the State, the counties, and all of their agencies contain accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and language.  

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, ‘Aha Punana Leo, and several individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.  One individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee supports the purpose and intent of this measure as well as the general movement toward the revitalization of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i.  Your Committee notes that this measure contains provisions for the gradual replacement of existing documents, letterhead, emblems, and symbols, in recognition of the potentially substantial cost involved.  Your Committee encourages continued consideration as this measure moves through the legislative process to ensure that the replacement provisions are sufficient to overcome any cost-related barriers to the successful implementation of this worthy policy.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to December 24, 2088, to encourage further discussion.

     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 S.B. No. 895, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 895, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair