1. Italicization of Hawaiian Words
Guidance
We will use italics for Hawaiian words interspersed within English text on the HIMB website.
Rationale
- Highlighting Specialized Knowledge: Italicizing marks the word as originating from a different language and knowledge system than the English text, acknowledging that the Hawaiian term represents a specialized, place-based, knowledge system.
- Affirming Linguistic Sovereignty: The use of italics emphasizes the inherent sovereignty of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in the context of the colonizer language. It deliberately highlights the distinct cultural and intellectual space the Hawaiian language occupies, rather than homogenizing it into English.
- Scholarly Alignment: This approach aligns with the practices of many formal academic publications, which use italics to signal a term from another language, particularly one that carries specific cultural or technical weight. There is another practice to not italicize ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi as it may misrepresent the Hawaiian language as foreign in Hawaiʻi, which is not the case. We acknowledge and respect any other formatting decisions made by other indigenous communities and schools of knowledge.
2. Standardization and Context
Guidance
Hawaiian terms will be standardized in their usage and, when first introduced or if their meaning is critical, they will be followed by an appropriate translation in parentheses.
Rationale
- We will standardize the usage as: mālama (care for).
- This approach ensures clarity for all audiences while respecting the integrity of the Hawaiian term, reflecting both dictionary definitions and scholarly treatment of the word.
3. Deferral to Kūpuna Council Wisdom
Long-Term Guidance
HIMB recognizes that the highest authority on the proper treatment of the Hawaiian language in this ahupuaʻa resides with the Kūpuna Council of the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). We will defer to their collective wisdom on how ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi should be honored and treated within our digital presence. We will defer to their ultimate guidance.