Bill Text: HI SB643 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Hawaiian Language.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-11-30 - Carried over to 2018 Regular Session. [SB643 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-SB643-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
643 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Constitution of the State of Hawaii provides for the preservation and promotion of native Hawaiian culture, history, and language. Article X, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution provides that "[t]he State shall promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history and language." Article XII, section 7, of the Hawaii State Constitution provides that "[t]he State reaffirms and shall protect all rights, customarily and traditionally exercised for subsistence, cultural and religious purposes and possessed by ahupua‘a tenants who are descendants of native Hawaiians who inhabited the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778, subject to the right of the State to regulate such rights." Because maintaining a living language is an integral component of preserving a culture, article XV, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution establishes that English and Hawaiian are the official languages of Hawai‘i.
The legislature reaffirms Hawaiian as one of its official languages and has supported efforts to incorporate the Hawaiian language into official state writings, emblems, and signs. The use of proper Hawaiian macrons and glottal stops shows not only the deserved respect for the native language of these islands, but also fully comports with the intent and purpose of the state constitution.
The purpose of this Act is to require all newly created, replaced, or reprinted state and county documents, letterheads, symbols, and emblems to contain accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and language beginning on January 1, 2018.
SECTION 2. Section 1-13.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§1-13.5[]] Hawaiian
language; spelling. [Macrons and glottal stops may be used in the
spelling of words or terms in the Hawaiian language in] (a) Effective
January 1, 2018, all documents and letterheads prepared by or for
state or county agencies or officials[.] shall include accurate,
appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and words, including proper Hawaiian
spelling and punctuation, including but not limited to macrons and glottal
stops that punctuate the English word to which they relate; provided that any
revision to conform any document or letterhead existing on or before January 1,
2018, to the requirements of this section, may be implemented when the document
or letterhead requires replacement or reprinting, or otherwise requires
revision. Any rule, order, policy, or other act, official or otherwise,
that prohibits or discourages the use of [these symbols] accurate,
appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and words, as required by this
section, shall be void.
(b) Hawaiian names and words shall be deemed accurate, appropriate, and authentic when printed in conformance with:
(1) "Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian", by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel H. Elbert, University of Hawai‘i Press, copyright 1986;
(2) "Māmaka Kaiao: A Modern Hawaiian Vocabulary", developed by the Kōmike Hua‘ōlelo, the Hawaiian Lexicon Committee; or
(3) "Place Names of Hawaii", by Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert, and Esther T. Mookini, University of Hawai‘i Press, copyright 1974."
SECTION 3. Section 5-6.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§5-6.5[]] State
language. (a) The Hawaiian language is the native language
of [Hawaii] Hawai‘i
and [may], effective January 1, 2018, shall be used on all
emblems and symbols representative of the State, its departments, agencies,
and political subdivisions[.]; provided that for emblems and symbols
existing on January 1, 2018, conformance with this section may be delayed until
a replacement for the emblem or symbol otherwise is required.
(b) The Hawaiian language as used on all emblems and symbols shall be in conformance with the requirements of section 1‑13.5(b)."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Hawaiian Language; Letterhead; Documents; Symbols; Emblems; Government Documents
Description:
Requires all newly created, replaced, or reprinted state and county letterheads, documents, symbols, and emblems to include accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and language. Establishes references for accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and words, including proper Hawaiian spelling and punctuation. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
