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Â鶹´«Ã½Hilo ?¨­lelo reviver drives ongoing growth of Hawaiian

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3 people wearing lei
(center) Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa joined UH Hilo in 1992 specializing in ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ and Hawaiian studies

at Hilo continues to be recognized for its crucial role in the revitalization and advancement of ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian language), one of the historic hallmarks of the campus. Indigenous cultures now turn to UH Hilo to help them revive their languages. Just last fall, the campus was awarded a five-year grant from the to establish a National Native American Language Resource Center.

Exterior of building with a rainbow in the sky
Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani

Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa is one of the key figures behind UH ±á¾±±ô´Ç¡¯²õ efforts to teach ʻōlelo. Last August, she was appointed interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at UH Hilo however for more than three decades, she has been an associate professor in Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian and Indigenous teacher education, teaching thousands of students (haum¨¡na) Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s mother tongue. Kawaiʻaeʻa also previously served as director of UH ±á¾±±ô´Ç¡¯²õ .

“Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani currently draws students seeking to learn our models and processes for Hawaiian, Indigenous, and endangered language revitalization from around the world,” Kawaiʻaeʻa said.

ʻŌlelo expansion

Children sitting in a circle around a drum.
UH Hilo worked to uplift Indigenous languages in areas like Wisconsin. Students at Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute

Kawaiʻaeʻa joined UH Hilo in 1992 as an educational specialist, and has served as founding director of the campus¡¯ , director of and founding partner of .

The Kahuawaiola Hawaiian and Indigenous Teacher Training Program is a three-semester graduate certificate program, delivered primarily through the medium of Hawaiian, specifically designed to prepare Mauli Ola Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian identity nurturing) teachers of the highest quality to teach in Hawaiian language medium schools, Hawaiian language and culture programs in English medium schools, and schools serving students with a strong Hawaiian cultural background.

UH Hilo is also expanding the use of ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ in various programs and curriculum, incorporating it into courses. More faculty and staff are also learning and utilizing the Hawaiian language.

“As we continue to implement more tangible ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ revitalization efforts and increase spaces where ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ lives…we will also be able to articulate the dynamics of ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ within our campus model of how a university campus serves as an Indigenous-serving model,” Kawaiʻaeʻa said.

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