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OHA trustees back Honolulu resolution urging creation of Hawaiian language commission, propose amendments
Summary
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted unanimously to support Honolulu City Council Resolution 25-037 urging the state to create a Hawaiian language commission, and asked staff to amend the board—s testimony to (1) include OHA coordination and (2) replace references to "Hawaiian language" with "Olelo Hawaiʻi."
On Feb. 5, 2024, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted 9-0 to support Honolulu City Council Resolution 25-037, which urges the state of Hawaii to create a Hawaiian language commission. Trustees instructed staff to send a letter of support with proposed amendments, including naming OHA as a coordinating entity and replacing the phrase "Hawaiian language" with "Olelo Hawaiʻi."
The board—s action came after discussion during the Board's BAE committee item on the resolution, which Councilmember Andrew Tupala introduced to the Honolulu City Council. Trustee Galluteria moved to approve staff recommendations to support the resolution; Lena Allah, OHA staff, said the resolution "is urging the state of Hawaii to create a Hawaiian language commission" and noted the City Council would take the matter up in a few weeks. The board—s letter of support is to be transmitted as testimony to the City Council.
Trustees framed the vote around language revitalization and inclusion. Trustee Akaka said his "top concern is that those that should be included are included," naming kupuna and early language revival leaders as people who should have a role in any future commission. Trustee Galluteria encouraged broad strategies for revitalization that do not require full proficiency, saying embedding the language into daily life can help future generations. Trustee Lindsay recommended OHA be explicitly named on a commission so the board can "take leadership of who we really are," referencing OHA's statutory role as the statewide Hawaiian agency.
Board members and staff emphasized that the Honolulu City Council resolution urges legislative or executive action, and does not itself create a commission. Lena Allah said the resolution is an urging action and that "if it went to the legislature, the administration, we would have another opportunity to provide input into how exactly this commission would be established and formed." Trustees asked staff to capture concerns raised in the board—s draft testimony, and to work with the chair and vice chair on final language.
The board adopted two specific drafting directions as amendments to the support: add OHA to the first bullet recommending coordination of city and state efforts, and change the phrase "Hawaiian language" in the draft support to "Olelo Hawaiʻi" throughout. Trustees also asked staff to recommend outreach to other county councils so island counties could coordinate if they choose.
The board voted by roll call; the outcome was nine yes votes, zero no votes. The motion was recorded as approved. After the vote, the board moved on to other agenda committees.
The action directs staff to draft and transmit testimony reflecting the board—s support and the stated amendments; the final testimony will be coordinated with the chair and vice chair before submission.
Notes: The board—s discussion referenced community language leaders (for example, Larry Kimura) and the range of dialects and orthographies historically present in Hawaiian communities. The resolution itself and the City Council's next steps were described as separate from the board's endorsement: the City Council is expected to consider the resolution in the coming weeks, and any statutory creation of a commission would be implemented at the state level.
