{"id":191476,"date":"2024-02-06T15:17:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T01:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=191476"},"modified":"2024-02-07T09:37:52","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T19:37:52","slug":"mahina-olelo-hawaii-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/06\/mahina-olelo-hawaii-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Mahina \u02bb\u014clelo Hawai\u02bbi: Revitalizing Hawaiian language"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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Each Pepeluali (February), the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> honors Mahina ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a>, 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<\/span>\u2019s native language.<\/p>\n

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Keiki (children) play word games at Ola Ka ʻĪ<\/span> Koʻolau<\/span><\/em> on Pepeluali 3. Credit: Kanaeokana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In celebration, the Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> School for Hawaiian Knowledge<\/a> (HSHK<\/abbr>) at UH<\/abbr> Mānoa is collaborating on Ola Ka ʻĪ<\/span><\/em> (Hawaiian language thrives), a series of free community events on Kauaʻi,<\/span> Oʻahu<\/span> and Maui. These events promote ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> or Hawaiian language through music, games and entertainment.<\/p>\n

“A foundational principle for Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> 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<\/span>. “The ʻōlelo<\/span> noʻeau<\/span> (proverb) that guides our work is found in Ka Puuhonua o na Hawaii\u2026and it says, ʻike<\/span> ʻia<\/span> ke kanaka ma kāna ʻōlelo<\/span><\/em> (a person is seen, understood, recognized through their language).”<\/p>\n

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Ola Ka ʻĪ<\/span><\/em> features activities for the entire ʻohana<\/span> (family). Credit: Kanaeokana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

HSHK<\/abbr> has been a key organizer of Ola Ka ʻĪ<\/span><\/em> since its launch in 2020, with ʻAhahui<\/span> ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and Kanaeokana as co-sponsors. The 1978 amendment to the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Constitution recognized ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> as one of the State\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

One of the notable features at Ola Ka ʻĪ<\/span><\/em> events is the Hoʻokūkū<\/span> Haʻi<\/span> ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, 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.<\/p>\n

Free events<\/h2>\n