Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 7, 1 July 1988 — Maui's Punana Leo Keikis Display Great Pride in Speaking Hawaiian [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Maui's Punana Leo Keikis Display Great Pride in Speaking Hawaiian

Ho'omau Fund Raiser Now Aug. 14

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A Ho'omau concert for Punana Leo o Maui Hawaiian Language Pre-school, originally announeeel for Saturday, Aug. 21, has been changed to Sunday, Aug. 14, according to an announeement from school officials. The times and plaee remain the same at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Maui County Zoo Amphitheater. Outstanding entertainment will be provided by Dennis Pavao, the Ho'opi'i Brothers, Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, Pa'u O Hi'iaka, Moe Keale, Hapa, Ka Makani Wili Makaha O Kauaula, Nelson Waikiki, Banyan Trio and many more. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $12 at the gate. Children under 12 are free. Food booths will be available and there will be demonstrations of arts and crafts. Many items will also be on sale. For tickets and other particulars, eall Hokulani Padilla at 244-3326 or Ki'ope Raymond at 244-4219. This is the second fund raiser for the newest of these centers whieh uses the immersion method of teaching totally in the Hawaiian language. Youngsters from ages 2 to 5, and in some exceptions up to age 6, leam to speak Hawaiian within a few months. The first fund raiser was held to raise "seed money" to open the Maui school in November, 1987. The staff is headed by Keali'i Reichel and also includes Kanani Bright and Kekuhi Kanahele Santiago, a granddaughter of the late Aunty Edith Kanaka'ole of Hilo. Kekuhi's mother, Pualani Kanahele, teaches Hawaiian studies at Maui Community College. The school is located in the activity section of the Wailuku Baptist Church. There are about 20 students in the first class and all of them are already speaking Hawaiian with a high degree of fluency. Ka Wai Ola O OHA dropped in on the keikis during recess June 10 and our entire visit had to be conducted in Hawaiian. No English is allowed at anytime. The keikis were very friendly, cordial and ever mindful of their Hawaiian language whieh flowed smoothly like the water of a river. The staff is assisted by volunteers who similarly function as teachers' aides in the Department of Education but who must also be Hawaiian-speak-ing. It is also mandatory for parents to attend two-hour classes onee a week during the entire school year so they, too, may leam the language and be able to communicate with their children at home. It is refreshing and brings a sense of pride to hear these youngsters, not all of whom are Hawaiian, to hear them speak in the native tongue. After all, Hawaiian is the other official language of the state of Hawai'i and what better way to keep it alive than with our keikis, many Hawaiian language experts and speakers contend. Punana Leo began in 1985 with three centers in Honolulu (1313 Kamehameha IV Road); Hilo (1744

Kinoole St.); and Kekaha, Kaua'i, whieh since has relocated to Puhi across the entrance from Kaua'i Community College. Punana Leo o Honolulu had its Ho'omau eoncert June 12 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Concert Hall before nearly 2,400 spectators.

These are some of the keikis of Punana Leo o Mau'i who paused during their activity period to pose for the Ka Wai Ola O OHA camera.