congressional_record: CREC-2026-02-26-pt1-PgS714
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| CREC-2026-02-26-pt1-PgS714 | 2026-02-26 | 119 | 2 | HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE MONTH | SENATE | SENATE | ALLOTHER | S714 | S714 | [{"name": "Mazie K. Hirono", "role": "speaking"}, {"name": "Jim Banks", "role": "speaking"}] | 172 Cong. Rec. S714 | Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S714] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE MONTH Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, this year marks the 250th anniversary of America's founding, and this year should be a celebration of our Nation and all those who have made it what it is. The story of our Nation is a story of diversity, of people of different races, religions, and national origins coming together to build something bigger than any one of us. That story should be told in its totality, but we have a regime that fears diversity and is trying to erase it from our history. From directing the National Park Service to remove aspects of American history from exhibits, such as slavery, to targeting immigrant communities across the country, to its all-out war on diversity and inclusion, Trump's regime is attempting to rewrite history and create a White America that never existed in the first place. The Native peoples were here first. This country would not be what it is today without the social, economic, and cultural contributions and the many sacrifices of historically marginalized but important communities. As we celebrate 250 years of America, it is critical that we tell their stories--stories that are central to the country and truly define our communities. One such story is the revitalization of Native languages, including the Hawaiian language. Since 2023, February has been recognized by the State of Hawaii as Mahina Olelo Hawaii, or Hawaiian Language Month. Following the colonization of the Hawaiian Islands by English-speaking westerners, the Hawaiian language, also known as Olelo Hawaii, was nearly driven to extinction. After the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, a law was enacted effectively barring the teaching of Olelo Hawaii across the islands. As a result, the use of Olelo Hawaii sharply declined, and the language came close to extinction. Thankfully, cultural practitioners, educators, and community members like Mary Kawena Pukui, author of the Hawaiian language dictionary, kept the language alive until interest in learning Hawaiian increased during the Hawaiian cultural renaissance in the 1970s. In 1978, Olelo Hawaii was finally recognized as an official language of the State of Hawaii--quite the contrast to President Trump's Executive order designating English as the language of our country. Olelo Hawaii has been reintroduced to the public education system, and Hawaiian language immersion schools have been established throughout the State to continue to revitalize and protect this important aspect of Hawaiian culture. The designation of February as Mahina Olelo Hawaii serves as a testament to the resilience of the Native Hawaiian community and the importance of Hawaiian history and culture. Indigenous languages are an important part of our country's history and fabric. A curriculum similar to what is used in our Hawaiian immersion schools has also been used by other indigenous groups to foster and revive their languages. In 2016, for example, a group of Hawaii educators from our Aha Punana Leo immersion schools in Hawaii traveled to the Midwest and mentored a language institute of the Ojibwe Tribe. There, the group shared their methodology and curricula to support the institute's program and help preserve the Ojibwe language. I am really proud that the resurgence of Native Hawaiian language is used as an example for other Native groups to learn how they can use similar programs to preserve their very special Native languages. Celebrating the survival and revitalization of these indigenous languages helps to preserve and strengthen the cultural diversity of our communities because, while much has changed since the founding of our Nation, the through line of America has always been our diversity. So Trump and Republicans can continue to tell their cherry-picked version of American history, but they cannot erase the truth of our diversity. As we celebrate our Nation's 250th anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding and fostering that diversity, to protecting the culture of communities that were here before us, and to ensuring the stories of our country and the Americans who make it so great are told in full. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. BANKS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________ |