There are a couple of bills before the State Legislature proposing that the Hawaiian language be added to letterhead and signage at State and County buildings (including use of the kahiko and okina).
Although it appears not to have a snowball's chance in hell of passing in this Legislative season, I think it would be a great idea for several reasons:
1) it would acknowledge the fact that the State of Hawaii Constitution recognizes Hawaiian as the second official language (it's the only state in the Union that has this distinction);
2) many young children are learning Hawaiian as a second language, and this would give them a practical applicaton of their schoolwork;
3) it would give more respect to the kanaka maoli;
4) it would make some tourists realize that Hawai'i is unique and not another tropical version of LA.
We have a monthly newspaper up here called the Northwest Hawai'i Times, which is written and distributed for the benefit of the many ex-pats who live in the state of Washington. I was reading an article in there where someone wrote that locals who have moved to the Mainland are the only group of immigrants who move within the US who call themselves "ex-pats". Californians who move up here don't call themselves "ex-pats" and New Yorkers who move anywhere don't call themselves "ex-pats" (they always call themselves New Yorkers no matter how long ago they moved away! ). But there is still enough of a tug in the hearts of former residents of Hawai'i that we want people to know that we still maintain our ties to the 'aina.
Having signage and letterhead with Hawaiian on them would be a way of showing how proud we are of the people who first touched the shores of Hawai'i.
Miulang
Although it appears not to have a snowball's chance in hell of passing in this Legislative season, I think it would be a great idea for several reasons:
1) it would acknowledge the fact that the State of Hawaii Constitution recognizes Hawaiian as the second official language (it's the only state in the Union that has this distinction);
2) many young children are learning Hawaiian as a second language, and this would give them a practical applicaton of their schoolwork;
3) it would give more respect to the kanaka maoli;
4) it would make some tourists realize that Hawai'i is unique and not another tropical version of LA.
We have a monthly newspaper up here called the Northwest Hawai'i Times, which is written and distributed for the benefit of the many ex-pats who live in the state of Washington. I was reading an article in there where someone wrote that locals who have moved to the Mainland are the only group of immigrants who move within the US who call themselves "ex-pats". Californians who move up here don't call themselves "ex-pats" and New Yorkers who move anywhere don't call themselves "ex-pats" (they always call themselves New Yorkers no matter how long ago they moved away! ). But there is still enough of a tug in the hearts of former residents of Hawai'i that we want people to know that we still maintain our ties to the 'aina.
Having signage and letterhead with Hawaiian on them would be a way of showing how proud we are of the people who first touched the shores of Hawai'i.
Miulang
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