Bill > HR130

This Resolution formally apologizes to the Native Hawaiian people for the historical prohibition of the Hawaiian language, known as "lelo Hawaii," in Hawaii's public schools from 1896 to 1986. It acknowledges that lelo Hawaii has been the indigenous language of Hawaii for over two thousand years and was integral to Hawaiian society, government, and culture. The Resolution highlights that this prohibition, stemming from laws like Act 57 of 1896 following the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, led to a drastic decline in Hawaiian language speakers and caused significant harm to the Native Hawaiian people. Furthermore, the Resolution expresses a commitment to acknowledge the consequences of the Kingdom's overthrow and to address ongoing historical and contemporary issues between the United States and Native Hawaiians, urging both the legislative and executive branches of the state government to take these actions.