Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 10, 1 October 1989 — ʻOlelo TV series teaches Hawaiian language to kids [ARTICLE]

ʻOlelo TV series teaches Hawaiian language to kids

By Deborah Ward Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA Hawaii's answer to "Sesame Street," the popular children's TV program is " 'Olelo," a clever, whimsical series of six 20-minute programs that are being aired on KHET-TV from September through March 1990. Don't look for it in a eompeting time slot with Big Bird, though. The programs are shown weekday mornings to fit elementary school schedules. " 'Olelo " was developed and is presented by the State Department of Education's Hawaiian Studies Program. Aimed at kindergarten through third grade students, " 'Olelo" seeks to raise students' awareness of, and interest in, the Hawaiian language by combining imaginative original stories with dramatic acting, pupp>ets and animahon. The episodes are filmed locally, and make the best use of Hawaii's colorful scenery and people. Children from the Hawaiian language immersion classes at Waiau Elementary School say the words that flash on the screen and then also appear in segments. The first program features Nona Beamer telling a fanciful story about "Na Waiho'olu'u" (colors). In it, Keola and Malie meet a mo'o (lizard), 'o'o bird and other characters as they bring color back to the rainbow. The second and third programs teach about "Na Helu" (numbers) and "Ke Kino" (parts of the body). The final three programs teach Hawaiian values. "I Ke Kua'aina" (Out in the Country) is the

story of a spoiled city boy who rediscovers his Hawaiian culture when he visits his grandparents in the country. "Na Waiwai O Ka 'Ohana" teaches family values. In "Ka Waiwai Ho'ona'auao" (the value of education) Kalani doesn't want to learn and prefers to go boogie boarding. On the beach he makes new friends who help him see that po'okela (striving for excellence), pa'ahana (sticking to your work), 'imi na'auao (love for know-

ledge), and kako'o (supporting eaeh other) make learning fun. " 'Olelo" episodes will be shown in sequence on KHET-TV on Mondays at 8:50 a.m., on Sept. 18 and 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23; on Fridays at 9:45 a.m. onDec. 15, Jan. 5, 12, 26,andFeb.2and9;andon Mondays at 8:50 a.m. on Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 12 and 26, and March 5 and 12.