STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3761

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2491

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2491, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all letterheads of the State and counties to use and spell Hawaiian words and names consistently, including the consistent use of kahakō and `okina diacritical marks.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure will help government agencies promote to the public the proper meaning, spelling, and pronunciation of words in the Hawaiian language.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2491, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2491, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair