HawaiiHawaii trains translators and interpreters through a university program
The University of Hawaii provides language access training for eligible graduates and community members, with $375,000 set aside for fiscal year 2026–2027.
What it does
The University of Hawaii provides a program to train eligible high school graduates and community members for translation and interpretation work.
Participants train in translation and interpretation and can earn a completion certificate after meeting program requirements, including education and internship opportunities.
Applicants with the Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy receive admission priority; other applicants must meet the program's language requirements.
The law sets aside $375,000 for fiscal year 2026–2027, including money for three campus jobs and the language access program.
Argument forTraining and internship opportunities could help bilingual residents qualify for translation and interpretation work in public services.
Argument againstSetting aside $375,000 for campus jobs and program costs could leave less state money for other priorities.
More detail
The University of Hawaii provides a language access education and workforce program. The program serves eligible high school graduates and community members seeking training to qualify as translators and interpreters. The university's SEED office works with campus departments, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and other public and private organizations. The Act took effect July 1, 2026.
The program provides translation and interpretation training and a completion certificate. The curriculum is for participants seeking recognition as qualified translators and interpreters. Training covers ethics, standards, and public service settings such as health care and education. Participants must complete educational requirements, including internship opportunities through the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Hele Imua program. The program includes credit and non-credit options. The Act took effect July 1, 2026.
The program gives admission priority to applicants with the Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy. These rules apply to applicants seeking admission to the language access program. Other applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language, as determined by program standards, or obtain the Global Seal of Biliteracy credential. The Act took effect July 1, 2026.
The University of Hawaii receives $375,000 for fiscal year 2026–2027 to carry out the Act. The University of Hawaii spends the funds for the Act's purposes at the three named campuses. Of the funds, $225,000 is for three full-time positions, one each at Leeward Community College, Kapiʻolani Community College, and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. The remaining $150,000 is divided equally among those campuses for the program. The appropriation is for fiscal year 2026–2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 26Act 179, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1281).Latest
- Jun 26Act 179, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1281).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 5:15PM in Conference Room 229.
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 5:50PM in Conference Room 229.
- May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Miyake, Amato, Kapela, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 209-26).
- May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 209-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:10PM in conference room 229.
- Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 3:00PM in conference room 229.
- Apr 24Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 3:00PM in conference room 229.
- Apr 23Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).Minor
- Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:30PM in conference room 229.
- Apr 22House Conferees Appointed: Garrett, Miyake Co-Chairs; Amato, Kapela, Souza.
- Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; DeCorte.
- Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).Minor
- Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 766).Minor
- Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
- Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
- Apr 14Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2051-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Apr 10Deferred one day 04-14-26.Minor
- Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 23Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1318-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 23Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Lowen, Perruso, Poepoe, Quinlan excused (6).Minor
- Mar 16The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Friday 03-13-26 2:00PM in conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 12Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Monday, 03-16-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
- Mar 10Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
- Mar 10Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 03-13-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 126) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
- Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2757) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
- Mar 3The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
- Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:56AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Feb 20Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2613) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Feb 20Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
- Feb 18The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13The committee(s) on EDU has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-18-26 1:02PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
- Feb 8The committee(s) on EDU deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 1:05PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
- Feb 6The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
- Feb 2Referred to EDU, WAM.Minor
- Jan 28Introduced.Minor
- Jan 28Passed First Reading.Introduced
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