My Friend Does Not Speak English Well. What Should We Do?

1. Say Which Language Is Needed

Be specific. “Does not speak English” is less useful than naming the language and, where relevant, the dialect. Write the language on a phone screen or piece of paper if communication is difficult.

• Primary spoken language.
• Dialect or regional variation, if relevant.
• Whether the person can read that language.
• Whether the person can understand some spoken English but not legal vocabulary.
• Whether sign-language or another communication accommodation is needed.

2. Ask Honolulu Police for Language Assistance

HPD policy says language access assistance generally includes notifying people that interpretation services are available free of charge. Patrol officers can contact HPD Communications for an authorized bilingual police employee or a contracted telephone interpreter.

Contracted in-person interpreters are identified by HPD as especially appropriate for criminal interrogations, witness interviews and investigations of complaints.

3. A Friend Should Not Handle Every Conversation

A friend or family member can help identify the language, give basic background and explain an urgent safety issue. That does not make the person a neutral or qualified interpreter.

HPD policy allows friends, family or bystanders to help with basic information in very informal, nonconfrontational situations when the limited-English speaker requests it. Outside emergencies, HPD policy says minor children should not be used to interpret.

4. Treat Police Questions and Written Warnings Seriously

If your friend does not fully understand a question, instruction, warning or form, say so immediately and request language assistance. HPD policy states that Miranda warnings and other written materials should be available in the person’s primary language whenever possible.

When a form is unavailable in that language or the person cannot read it, HPD policy provides for the material to be read in the primary language using contracted interpretation services.

• Do not pretend to understand to make the situation move faster.
• Do not guess at the meaning of a legal term.
• Ask for the entire question or document to be interpreted.
• Say when the interpreter’s language or dialect is not understood.
• Ask for clarification before signing or responding.

5. Ask the Attorney About Interpretation Before the Call

Tell the law office the exact language needed before a detailed conversation begins. Ask how confidential interpretation will be arranged and whether an independent interpreter is available.

• Give the exact language and dialect.
• Explain whether the person is in custody or available by phone.
• Ask whether the attorney can arrange an interpreter.
• Ask how interpretation fees, if any, will be handled.
• Do not use an alleged victim, witness or opposing person as interpreter.

6. Court Interpreter Services in Hawaiʻi

The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary states that it reasonably provides competent court interpreters free of charge for parties, witnesses and individuals with a substantial interest in a case. It also provides language assistance for communication with court staff, including telephone and counter service.

Tell court staff that an interpreter is needed. At a hearing, the person may ask the judge, provide a written request, show a Judiciary Language ID Card or have an attorney request an interpreter.

The Judiciary’s Office on Equality and Access to the Courts publishes (808) 539-4860 for additional language-access information.

7. Keep the Court Request Separate From Private Legal Help

A court interpreter helps the person understand and participate in the court proceeding. The interpreter does not act as the person’s attorney, explain legal strategy or give legal advice.

Similarly, a bilingual court employee may help with court services and procedures but cannot become the person’s private legal adviser.

8. Hawaiʻi’s Broader Language-Access Framework

Hawaiʻi’s Office of Language Access explains that state agencies and covered entities receiving state funding must take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access for people with limited English proficiency, including competent and timely oral interpretation and translation of vital documents.

The Office of Language Access lists (808) 586-8730 and toll-free 1-866-365-5955 for general information about language-access requirements.

9. Use Translation Apps Only as a Temporary Tool

A phone translation app can help identify a language, explain a simple immediate need or bridge the first few minutes. It should not be treated as a substitute for qualified interpretation during a formal interview, legal warning, medical emergency or court proceeding.

• Keep sentences short and literal.
• Avoid slang, humor and idioms.
• Confirm names, dates and numbers separately.
• Do not paste confidential legal details into an unfamiliar service.
• Request a human interpreter for important decisions.

10. Write Down Any Language Problem

Keep a simple record if your friend asked for help and could not understand what was happening.

• Date, time and location.
• Agency, facility or court involved.
• Language and dialect requested.
• How the request was made.
• Whether telephone, in-person or informal interpretation was used.
• Documents or questions the person did not understand.
• Names or identifying information of staff involved, when available.

Provide this factual timeline to the attorney. Do not exaggerate, confront staff or post accusations online while the facts are still unclear.