STAND. COM. REP. NO. 730

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1130

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1130 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to preserve the Hawaiian language and culture by requiring that state and county documents, letterheads, symbols, and emblems, when newly created, replaced, or reprinted, contain the accurate, appropriate, and authentic Hawaiian names and language.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie, Esq., Director, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law; and nineteen interested individuals.  Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Peter B. Carlisle, Mayor, City and County of Honolulu.

 

     Your Committee finds that maintaining a living language is an integral component of preserving a culture.  As such, the state constitution established Hawaiian as one of the State's official languages.  Your Committee also finds that the proper use of Hawaiian macrons and glottal stops not only shows respect for the Hawaiian language, but also comports with the intent of the state constitution.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the requirement of proper Hawaiian spelling and punctuation on documents and letterheads includes macrons and glottal stops that punctuate the English word to which they relate; and

 

     (2)  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 Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1130, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1130, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair