{"id":211431,"date":"2025-02-26T11:20:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T21:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=211431"},"modified":"2025-02-26T11:20:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T21:20:02","slug":"windward-cc-hawaiian-language-excellence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/26\/windward-cc-hawaiian-language-excellence\/","title":{"rendered":"Windward CC<\/abbr> showcases Hawaiian language excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Speech
Division 3 contestant speech<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Windward Community College hosted more than 60 haumāna (students) from across the Koʻolau<\/span> region for Nā Leo Hiehie o ke Koʻolau,<\/span> a hoʻopaʻanaʻau<\/span> (memorization) competition highlighting fluency in ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"People
Winners from the High School bracket<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The January event featured students from Ke Kula Kaiapuni Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> ʻo<\/span> Kahuku Academy, Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo<\/span> Hauʻula,<\/span> Ke Kula ʻo<\/span> Samuel M. Kamakau, Kūlaniākea, and Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo<\/span> Pū\u2018ōhala.<\/p>\n

“Windward CC<\/abbr> is so thankful to be part of this event, which reinforces the love of language and culture for our ʻōpio<\/span> (youth) and kaiāulu (community),” said Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg.<\/p>\n

Nā Leo Hiehie o ke Koʻolau,<\/span> was organized in partnership with Kanaeokana (a network dedicated to supporting ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½,<\/span> Hawaiian culture and ʻāina-based<\/span> education) and ʻAhahui<\/span> ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> (an organization that advocates for the Hawaiian language).<\/p>\n

\"Judges
Division 3 judges Miki Kalaniopio Cook, Kapela Wong, Kahanuola Tabor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Ola ka ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> makamae i ka leo o nā kamaliʻi!<\/span> Our precious Hawaiian language lives in the voices of the children!” said Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier, president of ʻAhahui<\/span> ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kanaeokana\u2019s Manuwai Peters added, “Nā Leo Hiehie o ke Koʻolau<\/span> provides students a competitive platform to showcase excellence in Hawaiian language while inspiring their peers. Seeing their families and teachers cheer them on is incredible. We look forward to supporting this event again in 2025.”<\/p>\n

Showcasing passion, skill<\/h2>\n
\"Group
High school participants<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The event kicked off a series of statewide competitions during Mahina ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> (Hawaiian Language Month). Winners were honored at the Ola Ka ʻĪ<\/span> Hawaiian Language Celebration at Windward Mall.<\/p>\n

“I am so honored to have an amazing team that provides a platform for haumāna to showcase their passion and skills for ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½.<\/span> We look forward to sustaining and growing this event for years to come,” said Kaʻimionalani<\/span> Gample, Windward CC<\/abbr> Early College counselor.<\/p>\n

Māhiehie Garrett, Â鶹´«Ã½loa<\/span> program coordinator, added, “When mākua (parents) and keiki (children) speak together in the language of our kūpuna (elders), you feel it. This is the future our kūpuna envisioned.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Windward CC<\/abbr> competition celebrated Hawaiian Language Month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[1057,1622,71,66],"class_list":["post-211431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaiian-language","tag-olelo-hawaii","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t