A resolution designating February 2025 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "'Olelo Hawai'i Month".
This is a non-binding Senate Resolution (S. Res. 83) introduced in the 119th Congress designating February 2025 as “Hawaiian Language Month” or “Olelo Hawai‘i Month.” The resolution highlights the history of the Hawaiian language, its near disappearance due to past bans, and the subsequent revitalization efforts led by Native Hawaiians and institutions in Hawaii. It references federal and state actions that support language preservation (including the Native American Languages Act and the establishment of a National Native American Language Resource Center) and notes existing Hawaiian language programs. The measure expresses a commitment to preserving and promoting the use of Olelo Hawai‘i in alignment with federal language preservation policy and urges people and organizations to celebrate the month with appropriate activities. This designation is symbolic and does not create new spending or enforceable obligations. Its purpose is to raise visibility, honor past and ongoing revitalization efforts, and encourage public celebration and programming in support of the Hawaiian language.
Key Points
- 1Designates February 2025 as “Hawaiian Language Month” or “Olelo Hawai‘i Month” in the United States.
- 2Describes the Hawaiian language as the native language of Native Hawaiians and recounts its historical presence, suppression (notably the 1896 ban on teaching in Olelo Hawai‘i), and revival through grassroots and institutional efforts.
- 3Documents significant revitalization milestones, including:
- 4- Aha Punana Leo Hawaiian immersion preschools.
- 5- Hawaiian language immersion in Hawaii’s public education system.
- 6- Hawaiian language programs within the University of Hawai‘i system.
- 7Connects the designation to broader federal language preservation policy, citing the Native American Languages Act of 1990 and the 2022 act that established a National Native American Language Resource Center, along with a 2023 federal grant to UH Hilo for that Center.
- 8States the Senate’s commitment to preserving, protecting, and promoting Olelo Hawai‘i in line with the Native American Languages Act, and calls for celebration and programs to demonstrate support for the language.