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Hawaiian diacritical markings will be used on new and replacement highway signs, the state Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday.
The policy takes effect immediately and will start with the ongoing project to upgrade and replace signs along the H-1 and H-201 freeways on Oahu.
"We are honored and excited today to announce this new internal policy," DOT Deputy Director for Highways Ed Sniffen said in a news release. "Using kahako and 'okina in Hawaiian words and place names on our signs is a small action to support, promote and revitalize 'Olelo Hawai'i."
DOT is in the process of preparing and adopting a master list of all street names and destinations on the state highways system. The public will be welcome to provide comments on the spellings of Hawaiian words during this consultation period.
The new policy was announced in conjunction with the end of Mahina 'Olelo Hawai'i, or Hawaiian language month, in February.