STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1086

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 1413

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1413, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require:

(1) Official stationery and website of designated state officials to include the Hawaiian translation of the office's or department's name; and

(2) All letterhead, documents, symbols, and emblems of the State and its political subdivisions that include Hawaiian names and words to include accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names, spelling, and punctuation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawai‘i State Constitution establishes Hawaiian as one of the two official languages of the State and requires the State to promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language. This measure furthers the study and use of the Hawaiian language through the use of the Hawaiian name of certain state offices and departments on official documents, letterheads, and websites and consistent names, spelling, and punctuation of Hawaiian names and words on state and county letterhead, documents, symbols, and emblems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the spelling and punctuation of Hawaiian names or words shall be consistent with certain references, rather than accurate, appropriate, authentic, or proper;

(2) Requiring state highway signs that contain Hawaiian names or words to use Hawaiian names, words, spelling, and punctuation consistent with certain references;

(3) Clarifying that consistent punctuation includes the use of kahakō and ‘okina, rather than macrons and glottal stops, to more accurately reflect the appropriate Hawaiian terminology;

(4) Clarifying that Hawaiian names or words that differ in spelling or punctuation from the manner established by this measure are inconsistent in spelling and punctuation, not misspelled or incorrectly punctuated;

(5) Revising the preamble to more appropriately explain its amended purpose;

(6) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) 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 Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1413, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1413, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and 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