In 2008, 6,800 cases required interpreters; by 2013,that number had swelled to 8,100

A recent case involving a man accused of shooting a woman and a police officer on Hawaii island highlights a growing challenge in Hawaii: finding people who can translate court hearings in other languages.

The man speaks Marshallese, and his right to hear his proceedings in the Marshall Islands tongue has led to delays in his case.

Officials with Hawaii’s Judiciary note the state has a limited pool of court interpreters from which to draw, and the ones they do have often must travel between the islands for proceedings, creating logistical challenges.

Meanwhile, requests for their services have soared, fueled by an influx of migrants from certain Pacific island nations who come to Hawaii under an agreement with the federal government. The deal, known as the Compact of Free Association, lets citizens from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau live and work freely in the United States in exchange for allowing the U.S. military to control strategic land and water areas in the region. More.

See: Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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