Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to experience Hua Maka, the new weekly video series by students designed to give viewers an immersive approach to learning ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½, or the Hawaiian language, using common Hawaiian words and place names found in Hilo and Â鶹´«Ã½ Island. Quick, digestible lessons in Hawaiian language are being offered through the (KHʻUOK)
In celebration of ʻŌlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ Month (Hawaiian Language Month), Hua Maka launched February 8, on ¡¯s Instagram account () and UH Hilo¡¯s social media platforms (@uhhilo on , , and ). Plans are also underway to broadcast the audio portion on University Radio Hilo, KUHH 101 FM.
Written and filmed by KHʻUOK students, each video focuses on a single word with examples of usage, spoken entirely in Hawaiian. English captions are included for those who are not fluent or familiar with the language.
Lecturer and Curriculum Specialist Kamalani Johnson named the program Hua Maka, referring to huaʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian words) that will serve as points of origin for people to hear, speak and use ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ on campus, encompassing “hua” of “huaʻōlelo” (words) and “maka” of “hoʻomaka” (start up).
Entry point
“It is my hope that Hua Maka serves as an entry point for our university community to learn ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½—both Hawaiian place names and Hawaiian words relevant to our place¡ªso that we do our part in perpetuating ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½,” Johnson said.
Johnson also led students from Associate Professor Jason Cabral¡¯s third-level Hawaiian class in both word descriptions and video filming. Videos are edited by student videographer/photographer Kapuakea Isaak of the Office of University Relations.
KHʻUOK Director Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa said, “It is my hope that by increasing venues where Hawaiian language can be easily accessed in useful and relevant ways, that we as a university community also serve as better stewards of our language through continued aʻo—teaching and learning—of our precious Hawaiian language.”
Hua Maka is one of the first KHʻUOK student-led initiatives to perpetuate ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ using digital media.
Revitalizing Hawaiian
Kolokea Kauaʻula, a student of Cabral¡¯s, shares her perspective of Hua Maka (ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ translation provided by Johnson):
“Noʻu, he koʻikoʻi ʻiʻo nō ka noke mau ʻana i kā kākou ʻōlelo ma nā ʻano hana like ʻole i loko nō o ko kākou ola. ʻO kēia papahana Hua Maka, ʻo ia kekahi o nā mea a kākou e hana nei i mea e ō mau ai ka ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½. He papahana ia e kamaʻāina ai iā Hilo nei a leʻaleʻa nō hoʻi. I koʻu manaʻo, e ō mau ana nā inoa o nā wahi pana o ia ʻāina a me ko kākou mau aliʻi ma o kēia papahana no ka pono o ke kaiāulu.”
(“For me, it?s important that we strive to revitalize our ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ in various aspects of our life. Hua Maka is one way ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ will live on. It¡¯s a project that familiarizes people with Hilo in a fun and innovative way. I believe the place names, storied places and our chiefs of Hilo will live on through this project for the benefit of the community.”)
In addition to the Hua Maka program, the community is invited to engage with KHʻUOK through email at khuokuhh@hawaii.edu, Hawaiian language content on the Hale Kuamoʻo Instagram account , or by enrolling in Hawaiian language courses. Visit for more information.
