Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 7, 1 July 1985 — Unity Cited at Studies Conference [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Unity Cited at Studies Conference

"It was just wonderful watching everyone working well together. I ean see it is really starting to work together." This was the summation of a three day conference on Hawaiian Studies in Education June 17- 19 at the Princess Ruth Ke'elikolani Performing Arts Center on The Kameham eha Schools campus. Dr. John Charlot, research associate at the East-West Center and conference co-chairman with the Rev. David Ka'upu of Kamehameha and Abraham Pi'ianai'a of the University of Hawaii, is the author of the above statement. He agreed with the general consensus that there needs to be more coordination among educators of all levels of Hawaiian studies. "We have to get out of our ivory towers, we have to join hands and work together," Charlot said. Conferees also agreed that: • There must be a special effort to save the Hawaiian language. • Kupuna or Hawaiian elders must be used at every !evel of Hawaiian education.

Charlot observed that there are only a few speakers fluent in the Hawaiian language and that the utilization of kupuna is limited to only some elementary schools to teach Hawaiian culture and language. This "working together," Charlot explained, was very evi dent at the conference. "Every part of the Hawaiian eommun ity was represented, from the far right to the far left, and they all worked on pushing Hawaiian studies. There was no dis agreements on main points," Charlot said. A committee headed by Homer Hayes and Adelaide (Frenchy) DeSoto is currently working to see that the conference's recommendations are implemented, Charlot reported. "The Hawaiian community is taking responsibility for Hawaiian studies. They are no longer leaving Hawaiian studies to institutions and educators," Charlot concluded. Among the 300 in attendance were OHA Chairman Joseph Kealoha and fellow T rustees Gard Kealoha, chairman of the OHA education and cu!ture committee and Moanikeala Akaka of the Big Island. A number of OHA staff officers were also present.

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Homer Hayes and Adelaide (Frenchy) DeSoto, nearest camera at left,confer on a poinl during discussions of a committee established by the Hawaiian Studies conference to find ways of implementing its recommendations.