State Revises Policy For Hawaiian Court Interpreters

The change comes after a professor faced arrest for insisting on speaking Hawaiian in court.

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(AP) — Hawaii’s Judiciary says those who want to speak Hawaiian in court will be able to use an interpreter.

The Judiciary announced Friday a policy for providing Hawaiian language interpreters after a professor faced arrest for insisting on speaking Hawaiian in court.

A judge wasn’t able to confirm Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo’s identity and issued a warrant.

This undated photo provided by the Maui Police Department shows Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo. Kaeo was in court Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, facing a trial for charges connected to his participation in a 2017 protest against the construction of a solar telescope on top of Haleakala, a volcano on Maui, Hawaii News Now reported. A judge dropped an arrest warrant Thursday for the University of Hawaii professor who refused to respond in court to English and spoke Hawaiian instead. (Maui Police Department via AP)
This photo provided by the Maui Police Department shows Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo. AP

The judge later recalled the warrant. The Judiciary reviewed its policy.

Previously judges had the discretion to allow interpreters for those who speak English but prefer to speak in Hawaiian.

Judiciary spokeswoman Jan Kagehiro says judges will now grant such requests, but there may be challenges such as the availability of qualified interpreters.

Kaeo was arrested last year while protesting a Maui solar telescope project.

A hearing is scheduled for Kaeo’s request for an interpreter.

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