S.B. 1413 Summary

• Requires the governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, and heads of principal departments to display Hawaiian language translations of their office or department names on official websites and letterheads, effective January 1, 2022.

• Mandates that all state and county documents, letterheads, state highway signs, symbols, and emblems containing Hawaiian names or words use consistent Hawaiian spelling and punctuation, including kahakō and ʻokina, as referenced in three specified Hawaiian language sources.

• Clarifies that existing documents and signs created before January 1, 2022 may delay compliance until replacement or reprinting is otherwise required.

• Specifies that inconsistently spelled or punctuated Hawaiian names and words shall not invalidate documents or render them unenforceable, and no cause of action may arise from non-compliance.

• Clarifies that the bill does not require full legislative bills and official documents to be written in Hawaiian language, only that Hawaiian names and words when used be spelled and punctuated consistently.