STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1353

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 701

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 701, 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 that all state and county documents, letterhead, emblems, and symbols containing Hawaiian language words or names employ accurate, appropriate, and authentic usage of the Hawaiian language including diacritical marks. This measure also establishes certain source materials as authoritative for determining accuracy, appropriateness, and authenticity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ke One O Kakuhihewa, and an individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from many individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents;

(2) Inserting new language directing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish a task force to:

(A) Determine appropriate sources for authenticating and verifying the appropriate usage and syntax of Hawaiian language for purposes of state and county documents, letterhead, emblems, and symbols; and

(B) Establish a process for the review of Hawaiian language documents, letterhead, emblems, and symbols;

(3) Directing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to report the task force's findings and recommendations to the 2020 Legislature; and

(4) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 701, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 701, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair