Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 3, 1 March 1991 — Putting Hawaiian language in forefront [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Putting Hawaiian language in forefront

Trustee,s Views

by Louis Hao Trustee, Molokai and Lana'i

Aloha mai! 1 wish to share my views about education with you. Recently, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs received the Hui Imi Report, a report funded by the 1989 legislature to review existing Hawaiian programs and

services — all public and private services available to Hawaiians. According to the report, Hawaiians are the third largest ethnic group in the state and are about 20 percent of the population, growing the fastest in the state. Thirty-five percent are under 15 years of age and another 22 percent are between ages 15 to 24 vears of acse. comoared to other ethnic qrouos.

Early education or childhood education is one of the highest priority needs. The study aeknowledges the importance of lifelong learning and recognizes education as culturally important as well. The education of our children needs to include the Hawaiian language, history, culture and art. Hawaiian cultural values and practices will instill pride in us all. Perhaps at the forefront, the Hawaiian language requires more attention. The Hawaiian language is

a unique and precious resource; without the Hawaiian language, the Hawaiian culture would not be able to exist and vice versa. Accordingly, Section 4, Article X and XV of the Hawaii State Constitution proclaims the Hawaiian language as one of the official languages of the State, and that the State provide for a Hawaiian education program consisting of language, culture and history in the public schools.

1 would hke to express strong support īn our community at this time for the Hawaiian language immersion program. This program is an 'ohana program, and as "one 'ohana," please support it and eall on our legislators for eomplianee consistent with our state constitution. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, in addition to monitoring the activities of the Department of Education and the University of Hawai'i, programs in Hawaiian ethnic studies, will continue to advocate for more funding, increased awareness and the promotion of the Hawaiian languaqe.

As indicated in the Hui Imi report, educational services "to Hawaiians is the responsibility of the federal and state departments of education, as well as the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate. The report further indicates the "pooling" of Hawaiian resources, and expertise within our community will not only benefit the Hawaiians but the total community as a whole. Mahalo!