Bill Text: HI HCR160 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Urging The Usage Of Hawaiian Language When Referring To The Names Of Places And Geographical Features In Hawaii.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-04-20 - Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 810) in amended form (SD 1). [HCR160 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HCR160-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	160
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE USAGE OF HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE WHEN REFERRING TO THE NAMES OF PLACES AND GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES IN HAWAI‘I.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian is an official language of the State, and the Legislature has a unique responsibility to promote the use of the Hawaiian language and enhance its role in maintaining the unique identity of our State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State is committed to the preservation of Hawaiian language and culture, and encourages the development of increased Hawaiian language learning opportunities; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State is dedicated to educating residents and visitors to the islands on the historical and cultural significance of Hawaiian places and geographical features, such as ahupua‘a, valleys, mountains, rivers, streams, beaches, bays, and islands; and

 

     WHEREAS, utilizing Hawaiian place names allows the Hawaiian people and residents of Hawai‘i to have a greater cultural understanding and sense of place in the islands, as the histories of these places are important to communities and their residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, each Hawaiian place name is associated with a mo‘olelo, or story, illustrating the importance of retaining the original Hawaiian place name, as English names for these locations may not correspond with these mo‘olelo, have equivalent meanings, or convey the historical or cultural importance of that location to the Hawaiian people; and

 

     WHEREAS, many individuals of Hawaiian ancestry trace genealogy or genealogical connections to specific Hawaiian places, illustrating the cultural importance of retaining these Hawaiian place names; and

 

     WHEREAS, official signage, maps, tourism guidebooks, and advertisements rarely display Hawaiian place names, leaving tourists or newcomers to the islands potentially unaware of the Hawaiian place names, and the cultural and historical significance of certain locations to the people of Hawai‘i; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian places and geographical features are increasingly being referred to by their non-Hawaiian names, for example the reference to "Lē‘ahi" as "Diamond Head" or reference to "Mokoli‘i" island as "Chinaman's Hat"; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the Senate concurring, that state and county offices, including state and county educational entities and recreational facilities, are urged to use Hawaiian names as the sole common names of Hawai‘i's places and geographical features; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that signage, maps, street names in all counties, and promotional materials issued by the State or other agencies include the Hawaiian place names; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that when a particular office, for a particular reason, sees a need to use an English name, that the Hawaiian name be used when applicable and accurate, e.g., "Tantalus Lookout" can be used to clarify a meeting location, but should also be accompanied by the Hawaiian name, "Pu‘u ‘Ualaka‘a"; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that when translating names into languages other than English or Hawaiian, the translating agency will attempt to retain the original meaning of the Hawaiian name in its translation, for example in a travel brochure on "Yokohama Bay", the Hawaiian name "Keawa‘ula" be utilized as the basis for the direct translation, as opposed to "Yokohama Bay"; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the written use of names of Hawai‘i's places and geographical features, that the full spelling include the ‘okina and kahakō in order to further inform the public of the proper pronunciation of such terms and promote such proper pronunciation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that government employees are encouraged to pronounce the names of Hawai‘i's places and geographical features properly, as pronounced in the Hawaiian language, and that those who are unfamiliar with the rules of pronouncing the Hawaiian language be encouraged to learn to do so; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local media, private schools, the tourism industry and other businesses, and the general public are urged to also follow the above described practices to preserve what Hawaiian terms are still in use, increase the use of Hawaiian names that have already been largely replaced by English names, and to encourage research into terms that have been lost; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Chairperson of the State Public Charter School Commission, the Chairperson of the Board of Regents and the President of the University of Hawai‘i System, Mayors of the several counties of Hawaii, Chairpersons of the several county councils, the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools, the Hawai‘i Association of Broadcasters, the two largest newspapers in each of the counties, and the President of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

Report Title: 

Hawaiian Language; Places and Geographic Features