STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1514-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 152

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 152 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE PERIOD BETWEEN 2022 AND 2032 AS THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize the period between 2022 and 2032 as the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the United Nations proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages and 2022 to 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in response to concern that forty percent of the world's estimated six thousand seven hundred languages were in danger of disappearing and to draw attention to the urgent need to take steps at national and international levels to preserve, revitalize, and promote indigenous languages. Your Committee further finds that ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i is an indigenous language of Hawai‘i and is recognized as one of the official languages of the State by the Hawaii State Constitution. This measure recognizes the achievements over the past thirty-five years in restoring and revitalizing ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i and upholds the spirit of the International Year of Indigenous Languages by recognizing the period between 2022 and 2032 as the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 152 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair