HONOLULU — In recognition of Mahina Olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian Language Month), the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts highlights history, culture and language in February with the “Word on the Street” campaign to update Oahu’s street signs.

What You Need To Know

  • February has been designated Mahina Olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian Language Month) with a call for the public to take part in its “Word on the Street” campaign that will update and correct Oahu’s street signs

  • See an incorrect street sign wherever you are? Take a picture and upload the image to the MOCA Instagram, @hnl_moca, and hashtag it with #WordOnTheStreet to share your findings

  • You can also email the image to moca-info@honolulu.gov or upload it via a Google form at honolulumoca.org

  • “So much of our history is held in our places names, our wahi pana, so it is important for us to assure those names are respected and utilized correctly,” said Makanani Sala, executive director of MOCA

Have you noticed a misplaced or missing okina or kahako in street signs? Use of modern diacritical markings has been inconsistent, and even names of historical people and places have been misspelled. MOCA said because the state views English and Hawaiian as its official languages, it is vital to make these corrections.

“We have seen many avoidable errors in spelling and usage of diacritical markings on our current street signs,” said Makanani Sala, executive director of MOCA. “To the extent possible, we would like to ensure those errors are fixed and that we create a process where signs are thoroughly vetted before being fabricated.

“We really see this as a multi-year movement towards Hawaiian language and English parity, with no end date in sight. For us, Mahina Olelo Hawaii is the impetus to gather public support and involvement for this important work.”

Sala added that ideally, they would like to update all signs that need it, but it will depend on funding and staffing for a project of this scale. “We have identified several grant opportunities that would allow us to increase our capacity to move this project forward expediently. This would entail partnerships with several community organizations with the particular skill set and expertise to bring the project to fruition."

“This is not a kuleana we take lightly. All suggestions and updates will be researched and vetted by a team of experts from our community.”

Sala said that in certain situations, the entire sign may not need to be replaced, and that they’re looking at ways to edit existing signs.

MOCA asks the public to help take inventory of street signs where they live, work and play by identifying and photographing signs that require updating. Upload the image to the MOCA Instagram, @hnl_moca, and hashtag it with #WordOnTheStreet to share your findings. You can also email the image to moca-info@honolulu.gov or upload it via a Google form at honolulumoca.org.

The updated inventory will then become the foundation for future signs and the commissioning of replacement signs. “Our eventual goal would be to make the master inventory available to the public, in partnership with community organizations who can help us establish and maintain such a database,” said Sala.

She adds, “So much of our history is held in our places names, our wahi pana, so it is important for us to assure those names are respected and utilized correctly.”