The Department of the Interior announced new guidelines on the usage of the Hawaiian language in recognition of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, or Hawaiian Language Month, in February. The purpose of this publication is to highlight Hawaiian culture.
According to Kauai Now, the new Departmental Manual chapter seeks to show the government’s dedication to giving Indigenous knowledge and culture first priority in conservation stewardship.
Secretary Deb Haaland stated in a press release that “the Biden-Harris administration’s work to meet the unique needs of the Native Hawaiian Community is central to prioritizing the preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture and elevating Indigenous Knowledge.” The Interior Department is dedicated to making sure that all internal policies and communications use factual language and statistics, especially as we allocate historic resources from President Biden’s Investing in America initiative to Hawaiʻi.
ϻōlelo HawaiŻi advocates, educators, and practitioners provided feedback for the new guidelines, which were developed during virtual consultation meetings last year, according to Kauai Now.
According to Kauai Now, the legislation stipulates that department bureaus and offices that interact with the Native Hawaiian population must adhere to the Hawaiian language guidelines when referring to locations, including as cultural sites, physical locations, and government buildings.
According to the news release, this program is in line with the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of fortifying ties with the Native Hawaiian population through initiatives like the Hawaiian Forest Bird Keystone Initiative and the Kapapahuliau Climate Resilience Program.
According to Island News, House Representative Diamond Garcia of Hawaii intends to advance efforts to promote Hawaiian cultural practices by introducing House Bill 2540, which would require two years of Hawaiian language instruction for pupils attending public schools in Hawaii.
“‘Olelo Hawaii is one of the two official languages of Hawaiʻi, according to the Hawaiʻi State Constitution. Hawaiian MUST be taught in Hawaii’s public schools if it is the official language, Garcia told Island News.