“On Wednesday, December 2, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights hosts the Second Hawaiʻi Language Access Summit — From Listening to Action — and registration is open now.

The first Summit named the barriers, shared what works, and started building collaboration across islands and sectors. The second is a working day, not a conference of panels: community members lead, agencies and nonprofits listen and build, and together we draft the Hawaiʻi Language Access Response Playbook — how warnings, shelters, services, and recovery reach every resident in a language they understand.

The day is built to produce: listening circles led by community members, a mixed-sector scenario to find where language fails, county breakouts (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi) that set readiness standards, four design labs that draft the protocols and tools, and self-assessments with 90-day commitments. A featured talk by Peniel Ibe of the National Partnership for New Americans brings the national picture.

Who should be in the room: community members — immigrants, refugees, residents with limited English, community organizations, and advocates; government agencies in emergency management, health, housing, human services, and schools; and the nonprofits and service providers on the front line. If your work touches a warning, a shelter, a service, or recovery, this day is for you.”