HI HCR122

Requests the University of Hawaii to establish an Olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language) pathway specifically concentrating on the Niihau dialect

Recognizes the Niihau dialect as significantly distinct from standard Hawaiian taught in immersion schools, having been preserved through continuous use as the primary language on Niihau island

Notes that native Niihau speakers maintained Hawaiian as their primary language even when education shifted to English, while other islands' pronunciation conformed to English conventions

Expresses concern that pressure to adopt newly invented vocabulary and concepts from Hawaiian language revitalization efforts risks eroding the traditional Niihau dialect through interpolation

Directs that a certified copy of the resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Hawaii System