Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 5, 1 May 1987 — Hawaiian Language Week Observed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian Language Week Observed

Hawaii observed Hawaiian Language Week April 511 by proclamation of Governor John David Waihee III. The formal signing was attended by representatives of a number of Hawaiian organizations including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ahahui 'Olelo Hawaii, the University of Hawaii, State Department of Education, 'Aha Punana Leo Hawaiian language Pre-Schools, the Kamehameha Schools and several Hawaiian societies. The occasion was a festive one and before the Governor entered his ceremonial outer office for the signing, the group spontaneously joined in the singing of a number of familiar Hawaiian songs. Governor Waihee told the crowd that generally he had suspended public resolution signings until the end of the Legislature. He said he was making a special exception for Hawaiian Language Week as well as for a resolution on the prevention of child abuse. Waihee pointed out that Hawaiian is the native language of the Islands and, by constitutional mandate, is an official language of Hawaii. He said that onee again Hawaiian is becoming a living language thanks to the

requirement that it be taught in the schools. Waihee said he feels especially good about the progress being made since he was a member of the 1978 Constitutional Convention whieh proposed amendments to establish Hawaiian as an official state language to be taught in the public schools. The Governor called himself a member of the "lost generation" who has never really learned to speak Hawaiian. When his parents wanted to speak privately he said they used the Hawaiian language. Now, when his mother doesn't want him to understand, she speaks to her grandchildren in Hawaiian and they know exactly what she means. Waihee called Hawaiian a "very special language . . . one of life, song, motion and poetry . . . a description of everything we find around us." Hawaiian Language Week was marked by a number of events, including lectures on the subject, special programs at schools throughout the state, religious services at Mauna 'Ala and culminating in the annual La Kukahekahe at St. Louis School.

Members of several Hawaiian groups and organizations gat her for the proclamation signing of Hawaiian Language Week Apr. 5-11 by Governor John David Waihee III.