REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ALLOW AN OLELO HAWAII PATHWAY UNDER THE NIIHAU DIALECT.
This House Resolution asks the University of Hawaii to create a specific academic pathway for Olelo Niihau, the distinct dialect of Hawaiian spoken on Niihau Island. The bill recognizes that this dialect has remained unique due to the island's isolation and requests the university to formally acknowledge it as a separate language track rather than grouping it under standard Hawaiian language programs. By directing a copy of the resolution to the university president, the legislature seeks to ensure that Niihau speakers receive education that respects their specific linguistic heritage and protects their dialect from being diluted by external language initiatives.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 16, 2026
Last action Apr 9, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
11
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Resolution adopted in final form.
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1875-26), recommending adoption.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Nakamura, Perruso excused (2).
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Committee
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1571-26), recommending referral to JHA.
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Woodson, Muraoka.
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to HED, JHA, referral sheet 19
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Introduced
Offered
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Darius Kila
DDemocratic
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