STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2224

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3308

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3308 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE SEAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the use of modern Hawaiian orthography, including the kahako and okina on the state seal.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from six individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian language, also known as Olelo Hawaii is an official language of the State. As a symbol of the State, the state seal should reflect that. To this end, this measure requires that the state seal use modern Hawaiian orthography, provided that valid representations of the seal created before this measure shall remain valid.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony that modern Hawaiian orthography, including the kahako and okina, is a modern system imposed on the Hawaiian language to help second language learners pronounce the word when oral examples are lacking, and to determine the meaning of a word in print when the oral example is also absent and that the vast majority of residents have some familiarity with Olelo Hawaii that enable them to discern the correct meaning without the additions of okina or kahako.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3308 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair