Bill > SB781

This bill aims to support the Hawaii State Judiciary's ?Olelo Hawai?i (Hawaiian language) initiatives by appropriating funds for projects that promote the use of Hawaiian language in the court system. The bill highlights constitutional provisions that recognize Hawaiian as an official language and mandate the preservation of Native Hawaiian culture, noting that a previous task force found Hawaiian to be a sophisticated language capable of accurately translating legal terminology. The legislation acknowledges that Hawaiian is the fifth most spoken language at home in Hawaii after English and emphasizes the judiciary's potential to serve as a model for Hawaiian language use in government. The bill appropriates an unspecified amount of general state revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support the judiciary's Hawaiian language projects, with the explicit stipulation that these funds should not replace existing judicial funding. The bill's purpose is to advance Hawaiian language resources, interpretation, and translation services within the court system, building on previous legislative resolutions and task force recommendations. The act is set to take effect on April 23, 2057, and represents a continued effort to honor and promote the Hawaiian language as an official state language.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=781&year=2026