Among the bits of buried treasure in the newly signed Judiciary budget bill is this one: The state has set aside $158,329 in start-up funds for a program to certify court interpreters. That's a welcome beginning in the long trek toward closing the language gap in Hawai'i.

Such barrier persists here, especially among new immigrants. An estimated 17 percent of the state's residents are born outside the United States, and 27 percent speak a language other than English at home.

The strain is felt no more keenly than in our state courts system, where clear communications become a matter of justice. Although interpreter services are offered to those going before a judge, they don't meet a uniform standard because there has been no way to certify the interpreter skills.

Fortunately, the state is part of a national consortium that aims to improve standards of court interpretation across the country.

But the group still lacks tests for seven languages most commonly needed in Hawai'i courts, including three Micronesian languages,. Tongan, Samoan and Tagalog tests also are lacking. So is an exam for Japanese; those of Japanese ancestry are mostly descendants of immigrants and speak English well.

For the immediate future, Judiciary officials are considering using immigration-courts interpreter exams for the last four of these languages. But the need for certified interpreters of the Micronesian languages is critical.

The U.S. Senate is considering a bill allotting funds to fill gaps like these. Congress should move quickly to approve it, in the interest of fulfilling the American promise of justice for all.