Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 5, 1 May 2013 — Governor signs ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Month, PLDC repeal bills [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Governor signs ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Month, PLDC repeal bills

By Garett Kamemoto Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill to designate eaeh February as 'Ōlelo Hawai'i Month. The new law also encourages the use of the Hawaiian language. The law is the first written the Hawaiian I m.l I -

language since statehood. The last time a legislation written in the Hawaiian language was enacted is believed to be in the 1940s. The governor said the law makes progress in encouraging the use of the Hawaiian language. "What began as an academic exercise some years back in terms exposure of a broader public, particularly younger people, to the Hawaiian language . . . has now moved to a stage of institutional force whieh otherwise might not exist," said Abercrombie. Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Executive Officer Kamana'opono Crabbe said the law "supports and encourages the revitalization of 'Ōlelo Hawai'i, the Hawaiian language." The measure was part of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs legislative package. PLDC REPEAL The governor also signed a bill to repeal

the Public Land Development Corp. The PLDC was designed to create public-pri-vate partnerships to develop underutilized state land. However, the corporation eame under fire for broad exemptions to state and county land use regulations. Backlash by environmental, Native "*! 1 ■ 1 1 ^AI

Hawaiian and other groups convinced lawmakers to scrap the agency. ASSET LIMITS A bill to encourage those on public assistance to save money and build assets has been signed into law by Gov. Abercrombie. House Bill 868 removes asset limit requirements that were required for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Lamilies. Previously, the law allowed a total of $5,000 in assets and the value of one motor vehicle in determining eligibility for hnaneial assistance. Families must still meet ineome eligibility requirements. The legislation is designed to develop asset-building programs that fight poverty and allow people to move toward eeonomie self-sufficiency. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs proposed similar legislation last year. ■

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed inlo law Senate Bill 409, whieh designates February as 'Ōlelo Hawai'i Month. The measure was part of 0HA's legislative package, and OHA CE0 Kamana'opono Crabbe, left, OHA Chief Advocate Breann Nu'uhiwa, right, and OHA Public Policy Manager Sterling Wong, back row center, were on hand for the April 22 signing. - Courtesy: 0ffice ofthe Governor