STAND. COM. REP. NO. 912-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2433

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2433 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 the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian, or if the law was originally drafted in English and if the law was subsequently amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in Hawaiian, and meets certain criteria.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that recognizing the authoritative status of Hawaiian-language texts is consistent with Hawaiian's designation as an official language of the State and supports fair and accurate interpretation of laws by giving effect to legislative intent as expressed in the language in which a law was enacted. Your Committee further finds that this measure acknowledges ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi's status as a co-official language of the State and ensures clarity, consistency, and long-term stability in statutory interpretations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that priority shall be given to the language of a law that aligns with the intent of the Legislature if there is a difference between the English and Hawaiian versions of the law that is material to its interpretation, rather than requiring the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian, or if the law was originally drafted in English and was subsequently amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in Hawaiian;

(2) Clarifying that Hawaiian is welcomed for use in public acts and transactions;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2433, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2433, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair