STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1571-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 114

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 114 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ALLOW AN OLELO HAWAII PATHWAY UNDER THE NIIHAU DIALECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to allow an Olelo Hawaii Pathway under the Niihau dialect.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that native speakers of the Niihau dialect come from a genealogy of continuous use of Hawaiian as their primary language of cognition and the isolation of the Niihau community has allowed Olelo Niihau to flourish as its own dialect that is significantly distinct from the Olelo Hawaii commonly found in immersion schools and mainstream educational settings. The level of competence which native speakers of Olelo Niihau possess is a testament to the formidable instinct of the Niihau community to preserve their connection to the Hawaiian language of their ancestors.

Your Committee also finds, however, that emerging external pressure to integrate new linguistic characteristics produced by new speakers of the Hawaiian language on to the Niihau community, especially Niihau youth, risks attrition of Olelo Niihau by interpolation. Furthermore, while Hawaiian language initiatives from outside of the Niihau community have enjoyed the support of legislation and policy, the specific linguistic needs of the Niihau community have been ignored or dismissed. This measure seeks to preserve and maintain Olelo Niihau as the unique marker of identity and the proud heritage of the Niihau community.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 114 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair