Each Pepeluali (February), the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ honors , also known as Hawaiian Language Month. This annual tribute, established in 2013 through Act 28 signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, aims to elevate and fortify Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s native language.
In celebration, the (HSHK) at UH Mānoa is collaborating on Ola Ka ʻĪ (Hawaiian language thrives), a series of free community events on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu and Maui. These events promote ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ or Hawaiian language through music, games and entertainment.
“A foundational principle for Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea is our ongoing commitment to the revitalization and renormalization of our language, identity and ancestral knowledge,” said Malia Nobrega-Olivera, director of strategic partnerships at Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea. “The ʻōlelo noʻeau (proverb) that guides our work is found in Ka Puuhonua o na Hawaii¡and it says, ʻike ʻia ke kanaka ma kāna ʻōlelo (a person is seen, understood, recognized through their language).”
HSHK has been a key organizer of Ola Ka ʻĪ since its launch in 2020, with ʻAhahui ʻŌlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ and Kanaeokana as co-sponsors. The 1978 amendment to the Â鶹´«Ã½ Constitution recognized ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ as one of the State¡¯s official languages. Nobrega-Olivera highlights that learning the Hawaiian language extends beyond linguistic acquisition; it delves into understanding a culture, its people, the land and more.
One of the notable features at Ola Ka ʻĪ events is the Hoʻokūkū Haʻi ʻŌlelo Â鶹´«Ã½, a Hawaiian language speech contest. Students from kindergarten to college showcase their memorization and recitation skills, with judges evaluating pronunciation, intonation and overall delivery reflecting the essence of the passage.
Free events
- , Pepeluali 10, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Kukui Grove
- , Pepeluali 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Queen Kaʻahumanu Center
- , Pepeluali 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Ka Makana Aliʻi