What This Bill Does
This resolution designates February 2023 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "'Ōlelo Hawai'i Month." The Senate commits to preserving, protecting and promoting the Hawaiian language in line with existing federal law about Native American languages. The resolution also urges Americans and interested groups to celebrate Hawaiian language with activities and programs.
Who It Affects
The bill directly addresses Native Hawaiians (the aboriginal, Indigenous people of Hawaii). It also calls upon the people of the United States and interested groups to participate in celebrating the Hawaiian language.
Key Provisions
• The Senate designates February 2023 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "'Ōlelo Hawai'i Month" (Resolved, paragraph 1)
• The Senate commits to preserving, protecting and promoting the use, practice and development of 'Ōlelo Hawai'i in alignment with the Native American Languages Act (Resolved, paragraph 2)
• The Senate urges the people of the United States and interested groups to celebrate 'Ōlelo Hawai'i with appropriate activities and programs to demonstrate support for the Hawaiian language (Resolved, paragraph 3)
What Changes
February 2023 receives an official Senate designation as Hawaiian Language Month. This is a symbolic action expressing the Senate's commitment to Hawaiian language preservation.
Important Definitions
'Ōlelo Hawai'i: The Hawaiian language, which is the Native language of Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians: The aboriginal, Indigenous people who settled the Hawaiian archipelago and founded the Kingdom of Hawai'i
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
III
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. RES. 80
Designating February 2023 as ‘‘Hawaiian Language Month’’ or ‘‘ ‘O¯lelo
Hawai‘i Month’’.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 28, 2023
Mr. SCHATZ (for himself and Ms. HIRONO) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
RESOLUTION
Designating February 2023 as ‘‘Hawaiian Language Month’’
or ‘‘ ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i Month’’.
Whereas the Hawaiian language, or ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i—
(1) is the Native language of Native Hawaiians, the
aboriginal, Indigenous people who—
(A) settled the Hawaiian archipelago as early as
300 A.D., over which they exercised sovereignty; and
(B) over time, founded the Kingdom of Hawai‘i;
and
(2) was once widely spoken by Native Hawaiians
and non-Native Hawaiians throughout the Kingdom of
Hawai‘i, which held one of the highest literacy rates in
the world prior to the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom
of Hawai‘i in 1893 and the establishment of the Republic
of Hawai‘i;
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:41 Feb 28, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\SR80.IS
SR80
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2
•SRES 80 IS
Whereas the Republic of Hawai‘i enacted a law in 1896 effec-
tively banning school instruction in ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i, which
led to the near extinction of the language by the 1980s
when fewer than 50 fluent speakers under 18 years old
remained;
Whereas, since the 1960s, Native Hawaiians have led a
grassroots revitalization of their Native language, launch-
ing a number of historic initiatives, including—
(1) ‘Aha Pu¯nana Leo’s Hawaiian language immer-
sion preschools;
(2) the Hawaiian language immersion program of
the Hawai‘i State Department of Education; and
(3) the Hawaiian language programs of the Univer-
sity of Hawai‘i system; and
Whereas the Hawaiian language revitalization movement in-
spired systemic Native language policy reform, includ-
ing—
(1) the State of Hawai‘i recognizing ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i
as an official language in the Constitution of the State
of Hawai‘i in 1978;
(2) the State of Hawai‘i removing the 90-year ban
on teaching ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i in public and private schools
in 1986;
(3) the enactment of the Native American Lan-
guages Act (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) in 1990, which es-
tablished the policy of the United States to preserve, pro-
tect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native
Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American
languages; and
(4) the State of Hawai‘i designating the month of
February as ‘‘ ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i Month’’ to celebrate and en-
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:41 Feb 28, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\SR80.IS
SR80
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3
•SRES 80 IS
courage the use of the Hawaiian language: Now, there-
fore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
1
(1) designates February 2023 as ‘‘Hawaiian
2
Language Month’’ or ‘‘ ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i Month’’;
3
(2) commits to preserving, protecting, and pro-
4
moting the use, practice, and development of ‘O¯lelo
5
Hawai‘i in alignment with the Native American Lan-
6
guages Act (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.); and
7
(3) urges the people of the United States and
8
interested groups to celebrate ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i with
9
appropriate activities and programs to demonstrate
10
support for ‘O¯lelo Hawai‘i.
11
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:41 Feb 28, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\SR80.IS
SR80
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS