RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

HB1460

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1460

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the hawaiian language
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that
ʻ
ō
lelo

Hawaii, the Hawaiian language, is the native language of the Native
Hawaiian people.
�
While once spoken
throughout Hawaii by Native Hawaiians and foreigners alike,
ʻ
ō
lelo Hawaii was
considered to be nearly extinct by the 1980s, when fewer than fifty fluent
speakers under the age of eighteen were left.
�

A major reason for the deterioration of the Hawaiian language was an
1896 law that required English instruction in Hawaii schools.
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In practice, this law functioned to
"ban" students from speaking
ʻ
ō
lelo Hawaii at their
schools.

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To save
the Hawaiian language, a number of historic initiatives were launched,
including
ʻ
Aha P
ū
nana Leo's Hawaiian
language immersion preschools, the department of education's Hawaiian language
immersion program, and the Hawaiian language programs of the university of
Hawaii system.

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In
addition, in 1978, the Hawaii constitution was amended to recognize the
Hawaiian language as one of the two official languages of the State.

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Furthermore,
several important gubernatorial proclamations on
ʻ
ō
lelo Hawaii were issued
in the 1990s.
�
In 1994 and 1995,
gubernatorial proclamations, written in Hawaiian and English, were issued
recognizing February 1994 and February 1995 as "Hawaiian Language Month in
Hawaii."
�
The proclamations urged
people to participate in the Hawaiian language activities held in February.

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While the
Hawaiian language revitalization movement has made major strides in the last
thirty years, for
ʻ
ō
lelo Hawaii to not just
survive, but to also thrive, more people need to speak Hawaiian.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
�
Require students of Hawaii's public schools to
learn Hawaiian by completing course work for two credits of Hawaiian language
instruction as a graduation requirement, b
eginning with the 2026-2027 school year
; and

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(2)
�
Establish a pilot program at an elementary
school located in central Oahu and Nanakuli high and intermediate school to
encourage the learning and practice of the Hawaiian language.

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SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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"
�302A-
�
Hawaiian language instruction required.
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Beginning with high school diplomas awarded at the conclusion of the 2026-2027
school year, each student shall complete course work for two credits of
Hawaiian language instruction as a requirement for a high school diploma.
"

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SECTION 3.
�

(a)
�
The department of education
shall:

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(1)
�
Design and establish a two-year Hawaiian
language pilot program at an elementary school in central Oahu
�
and at Nanakuli high and intermediate school
that enables students to learn and practice the Hawaiian language;

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(2)
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Award a certificate to each student at the
selected elementary school who completes the Hawaiian language pilot program;

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(3)
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Recognize the credits earned from the pilot
program by students of Nanakuli high and intermediate school for a high school
diploma;

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(4)
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Assess and analyze the progress made by the
students based on standards set forth by the department; and

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(5)
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Make recommendations that address the
requirement of two credits of Hawaiian language instruction for a high school
diploma.

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(b)
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Based on the department of education's
assessment of the pilot program, the department shall determine whether to
continue, expand, or end the pilot program.

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(c)
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No later than thirty days before the
convening of the regular session of 2028, the department of education shall
submit to the legislature a report of its findings and recommendations,
including any proposed legislation.

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SECTION
4.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purposes of
this Act.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
department of education for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 5.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaiian
Language; Department of Education; Graduation Requirements; Pilot Program;
Appropriation

Description:

Beginning
with the 2026-2027 school year, requires that each Department of Education
public school student earn 2 credits in Hawaiian language as a graduation
requirement.
�
Establishes a 2‑year
pilot program for Hawaiian language instruction at a central Oahu elementary
school and Nanakuli High and Intermediate School.
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Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.