A hui of Hawaiian organizations celebrated Mahina ʻŌlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian Language Month) with Ola Ka ʻĪ Kauaʻi-Niihau on February 10. The celebration brought together more than 100 students from Hawaiian language education schools on Kauaʻi, teachers, ʻohana and more than 30 community organizations.
The Kauaʻi-Niihau event showcased ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ through music, hula, storytelling, games, student performances and a Hawaiian language speech competition hosted by ʻAha Hui ʻŌlelo Â鶹´«Ã½. Interactive booths featured aloha ʻāina activities for keiki and adults to be immersed in a language rich experience.
Led by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa , Kanaeokana, Kamehameha Schools Kaiāulu and others, the event was the second Ola Ka ʻĪ in a series of Hawaiian language fairs happening throughout Â鶹´«Ã½ in February.
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“We love organizing these kinds of events as Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea and ʻAha Hui ʻŌlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ because we need to hear our language in all different spaces,” said Malia Nobrega-Olivera, director of strategic partnerships and community engagement at Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea. “That¡¯s a part of Kanaeokana¡¯s objective of renormalizing ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ and that¡¯s really a mission for so many of us that are out in our community.”
“As a member of this hui of Native Hawaiian organizations, Kamehameha Schools is honored to help to host the first Ola Ka ʻĪ Kauaʻi-Niihau,” said Manuwai Peters, senior project manager with Kamehameha Schools? Kealaiwikuamoʻo. “These events help bring to fruition a future where you can go to places like a shopping center and ʻōlelo ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±¡ª²¹²Ô»å people you encounter there speak back to you in ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½.”
Upcoming Ola Ka ʻĪ events
Ola Ka ʻĪ Maui Nui
Saturday, February 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center (Maui)
Ola Ka ʻĪ ʻEwa
Saturday, February 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ka Makana Aliʻi (Oʻahu)