[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.

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