STAND. COM. REP. NO. 295

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 110

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 110 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the use of diacritical marks for Hawaiian words on special number plates.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Customer Service, City and County of Honolulu. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department.

Your Committee finds that the development and use of ‘okina and kahakō were to provide the necessary distinction in the appropriate pronunciation of words as the language evolved and transformed from predominantly spoken to include written language. Your Committee further finds that in written ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, the use of diacritical marks, like ‘okina, maintain the same critical importance as the recognized letters of the Hawaiian language alphabet, in that their absence or presence in words can result in a completely different meaning. The proper respect afforded to maintaining the integrity of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i in its written and spoken forms is monumental.

Your Committee heard concerns raised during the hearing that changing license plates to include ‘okina and kahakō will affect readability, especially in other jurisdictions where Hawaiian diacritical marks may be less familiar and may give law enforcement officers a reason to pull over drivers of vehicles with unrecognizable license plates. Your Committee notes that the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu is working with the Honolulu Police Department to address these concerns.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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 H.B. No. 110, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 110, 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,

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair