Latest news with #GNIS
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City Council requests to restore Sand Island's Native name
City lawmakers are leading the push to return Sand Island's name to its Native Hawaiian name Mauliola, which means 'breath of life ' or 'power of healing.' Over 641 acres in size and largely man-made, Sand Island features industrial zone businesses, a U.S. military base, a state-owned recreational park and the city's prime wastewater treatment facility, all within Honolulu Harbor. But the site also has significant local history, and that's why the Honolulu City Council's International and Legal Affairs Committee voted unanimously last week to pass Resolution 63, which urges the Hawaii State Board on Geographic Names (HBGN ) to rename the site as Mauliola. The full Council is expected Wednesday to review Resolution 63 for approval. The resolution, introduced by Council member Radiant Cordero, states, 'From the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s, this small tidal island grew in size with the dredging and infilling of Honolulu Harbor, altering an area that had once been a large complex of fishponds and reefs.' The resolution says the name Mauliola harks back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when the rapid urbanization of Honolulu and an increasingly busy harbor brought an influx of disease, which rapidly spread. 'Mauliola was utilized to quarantine ships, and the government built a crematorium on the island, which in part led to Mauliola becoming known as Quarantine Island, ' the resolution read. Over time, Quarantine Island grew in size with more dredging and infilling of Honolulu Harbor in the 1940s. The island was utilized by the military as a coastal defense station and an internment camp during World War II, for Japanese Americans and other Axis nationals. The resolution states, 'Quarantine Island later became known by its present name, Sand Island, which is listed as the island's official name on the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS ), a federal repository for identifying official place names. State governments are given the authority to provide 'administrative names' to places, which are then listed in the GNIS.' The state Board on Geographic Names was established to designate the official place names and spellings of geographic features in the state of Hawaii, and to ensure uniformity in the use and spelling of geographic features, the resolution says. 'The HBGN uses cultural and historical significance as a criterion for considering a name change, with preference given to names in 'Olelo Hawaii, ' the resolution states. Rhonda Burk, advocacy chair for the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, or OHCRA, during an April 30 committee meeting told the panel that her group had officially requested that Sand Island be renamed Mauliola. She said that name 'embodies values of healing, renewal and interconnectedness that resonate deeply within our paddling community.' 'Renaming Sand Island to Mauliola aligns with efforts to restore traditional place names and highlights the historical and cultural significance of this location, which was historically used by Native Hawaiians and later became a site of a World War II detention camp, ' Burk added. The canoe racing association was not alone in its Sand Island name-change request. In submitted written testimony to the Council, state Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Airport ) expressed his support for Resolution 63 as well. 'Renaming the island to its original name of Mauliola is a thoughtful and appropriate action to reflect the historical and cultural significance of the area, ' Wakai said. 'While many know it today as Sand Island, the name Mauliola connects us to the deeper history of the island, particularly its role as a place of quarantine and the meaning behind the name itself, which refers to healing and renewal.' 'Recognizing original place names in 'Olelo Hawaii is one way we can promote awareness of and respect for Native Hawaiian culture, ' he added. 'It also helps preserve the unique identity of our communities and the stories tied to the land.' At the meeting, Cordero said the resolution's effort was only 'a starting base.' She also stressed that the requested name change will not affect address changes or renaming to actual streets and thoroughfares—including to well-traveled Sand Island Access Road, off North Nimitz Highway.
Engadget
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Engadget
Mexico is suing Google over 'Gulf of America' name change for US users
The Mexican government has filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in Maps within the United States. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said during a press conference that the lawsuit has already been filed, but as The Guardian notes, she didn't say when and where it was submitted. Sheinbaum argued that the Trump administration's order for a name change only applies to the US portion of the oceanic basin and that the US government doesn't have the authority to rename the whole body of water. "All we want is for the decree issued by the US government to be complied with," she said. Google renamed the Gulf of Mexico into the Gulf of America for users who open Maps in the US back in February. It first announced that it was going to do so the previous month and said it was only waiting for the US government to make the change official in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which serves as the "federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature." BBC said the Mexican government wrote to Google at the time to get it to reconsider before eventually threatening legal action. When Google announced the name change for US users, it explained that it was following a longstanding practice to show official local names for places in Maps when they vary between countries. In Mexico, the basin is still called the Gulf of Mexico, while it shows up as "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)" for users outside both countries.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mexico sues Google over ‘Gulf of America' label change
Mexico has sued technology company Google over its decision to update its maps platforms to match President Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Friday. Sheinbaum told reporters Friday that a suit was filed against Google but did not provide further details, The Associated Press reported. Google did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The reported lawsuit makes good on Sheinbaum's threat from February, shortly after Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico on his first day in office. Shortly after the order, the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) made the change official, prompting Google Maps to follow suit for U.S. users. Currently, those in the U.S. only see the label Gulf of America on the map while users in Mexico see the name as Gulf of Mexico. Those elsewhere see the label 'Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).' Sheinbaum's announcement comes one day after House Republicans took the first step in codifying the executive order to rename the body of water. The legislation, titled the Gulf of America Act, cleared the House in a 211-206 vote and now heads to the Senate, where its future looks murky. At least seven Democrats would need to join all Republicans in supporting the legislation. Amid the backlash earlier this year, Google maintained it has a long-standing practice of applying name changes when they are updated in official government sources, like the GNIS. In a case where official names vary between nations, Google's policy states users will see their official local names. Sheinbaum argues Trump's executive order only applied to the area of the continental shelf under U.S. control. 'What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump's decree, which applied only to the U.S. continental shelf,' Sheinbaum said in February. According to Sovereign Limits, a database of international boundaries, the U.S. has control over about 46 percent of the Gulf, while Mexico controls about 49 percent and Cuba about 5 percent. Mexico's foreign relations ministry sent letters to Google earlier this year, urging the company not to implement the changes. In February, Sheinbaum shared Google's response from its vice president of government affairs and public policy, Cris Turner, who said the company will not change its policy after Trump signed the order, the AP reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Mexico sues Google over ‘Gulf of America' label change
Mexico has sued technology company Google over its decision to update its maps platforms to match President Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Friday. Sheinbaum told reporters on Friday that a suit was filed against Google, but did not provide further details, the Associated Press reported. Google did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The reported suit makes good on Sheinbaum's threat from February, shortly after Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico on his first day in office. Shortly after the order, the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) made the change official, prompting Google Maps to follow suit for U.S. users. Currently, those in the U.S. only see the label 'Gulf of America' on the map while users in Mexico see the name as 'Gulf of Mexico.' Those elsewhere see the label 'Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America.' Sheinbaum's announcement comes one day after House Republicans took the first step in codifying the executive order to rename the body of water. The legislation, titled the 'Gulf of America Act,' cleared the House in a 211-206 vote and now heads to Senate, where its future looks murky. At least seven Democrats would need to join all Republicans in supporting the legislation. Amid the backlash earlier this year, Google maintained it has a long-standing practice of applying name changes when they are updated in official government sources, like the GNIS. In a case where official names vary between nations, Google's policy states users will see their official local names. Sheinbaum argues Trump's executive order only applied to the area of the continental shelf under U.S. control. 'What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump's decree, which applied only to the U.S. continental shelf,' Sheinbaum said in February. According to Sovereign Limits, a database of international boundaries, the U.S. has control over about 46 percent of the Gulf, while Mexico controls about 49 percent and Cuba about 5 percent. Mexico's Foreign Relations ministry sent letters to Google earlier this year, urging the company not to implement the changes. In February, Sheinbaum shared Google's response from its vice president of government affairs and public policy, Cris Turner, who said the company will not change its policy after Trump signed the order, the AP reported.
The Hill
21-02-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Google faces heat
The company's decision to follow Trump's order on Google Maps quickly sparked backlash from Mexico, where leaders are now threatening legal action against the company. While this is not the first time since Google faced disputes over its geographical name changes, experts say this opens a Pandora's box of questions about how major tech companies help shape global narratives. 'Google, along with the other major platforms, wield enormous influence in how people perceive geography, history and political realities,' said Tobias Feakin, Australia's former inaugural ambassador for cyber affairs and critical technology. 'What appears on a map isn't just data, it shapes global narratives. When Google changes a name, it effectively validates a political stance, even if unintentionally,' he continued. Shortly after Trump's executive order to rename the body of water, the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) made the change official, prompting Google Maps to follow suit for U.S. users. Apple Maps and Bing Maps also updated their systems to align with the change. Google maintains it has a long-standing practice of applying name changes when they are updated in official government sources, as the GNIS did. In a case where official names vary between nations, users will see their official local names, according to Google's policy. Quickly resisting the change, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has threatened to file suit against Google, arguing Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf applied only to the area of the continental shelf under U.S. control. The backlash against Google comes as technology companies continue to become more influential in broader society. With this growing power comes a larger role in geopolitics, or the ways geography impacts politics and foreign relations. 'Tech companies are no longer just participants in geopolitics, they are shaping it,' said Feakin, whose research examines geopolitics and its intersection with advanced and emerging technologies.
