Mahina ʻ?lelo Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian Language Month) is observed each Pepeuali (February), and the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ is hosting a series of events to uplift Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s native tongue. This year¡¯s UH-sponsored events began January 30 at .
Held at Hale ʻ?koakoa (Campus Center), 120 students from kindergarten through high school took part in N¨¡ Leo Hiehie o ke Koʻolau, an annual ³ó´Çʻ´Ç°ì¨±°ì¨± ʻ¨±ô±ð±ô´Ç Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian language speech competition). Participants shared memorized passages and original speeches delivered entirely in ʻ¨±ô±ð±ô´Ç Â鶹´«Ã½.
“I¡¯m a kaiapuni [Hawaiian medium school] mom, so this is really close to my heart as well to get to see our keiki, the ʻ¨±è¾±´Ç (youth) get up there and be proud of themselves,” said Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg, “We hope for these children to feel comfortable while they¡¯re here today to have a really good time and see that the college really values them for who they are and where they¡¯re from and come to us when they¡¯re done.”
Voices rising
Co-sponsored by Kanaeokana, ʻAhahui ʻ?lelo Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, the competition evaluated students across several categories, including pronunciation, fluency and grooming. The event featured students from Ke Kula Kaiapuni Â鶹´«Ã½ ʻo Kahuku Academy, Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Hauʻula, Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau, Kūlaniākea and Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo ±Êū¡®ō³ó²¹±ô²¹.
“Speaking ʻ¨±ô±ð±ô´Ç Â鶹´«Ã½ as a community, as a l¨¡hui, when our k¨±puna (elders) were banned from speaking their language, it means a lot to be able to do this,” said Pakalana Kaniho, a Hawaiian immersion student at Kahuku Academy who took home one of the top honors at N¨¡ Leo Hiehie o ke Koʻolau.
UH events
The Windward CC event marks the first of six ³ó´Çʻ´Ç°ì¨±°ì¨± ʻ¨±ô±ð±ô´Ç Â鶹´«Ã½ hosted by UH this Pepeluali. Hundreds of keiki are registered to participate in upcoming competitions at UH Hilo, UH Maui College, UH West Oʻahu, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ and Kauaʻi Community College.
“When you look at our children, they¡¯re thriving! They¡¯re all so excited,” said Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier, President of ʻAhahui ʻ?lelo Â鶹´«Ã½. “What I would like them to know is the Hawaiian language is not only for your classroom. It doesn¡¯t only happen in your hale (home) but it¡¯s gonna happen everywhere whether you go to the gas station, valet your car, in the university, in academics, in all sorts of places. We know that Hawaiian language is alive.”
Free ʻ¨±ô±ð±ô´Ç events
Winners from each event will go on to perform at events, a statewide series of free Hawaiian language fairs held in public spaces throughout February and March. The annual celebrations are sponsored by community organizations, schools, and non-profits that are committed to Hawaiian language and culture on that specific island.
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