HI HB780

Establishes that both English and Hawaiian are official languages of Hawaii, with Hawaiian version binding when a law was originally drafted in Hawaiian and English version was translated from it.

Requires ʻokina (glottal stop, represented as left single quotation mark) and kahakō (macron over vowels) be used when appropriate in documents prepared by state or county agencies or officials.

Exempts documents submitted by members of the general public from the requirement to use ʻokina and kahakō symbols.

Voids any rule, order, policy, or official act that prohibits or discourages use of ʻokina and kahakō in Hawaiian language spelling.

Takes effect upon approval; references United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) and U.S. endorsement (2011) regarding indigenous language rights.