Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 5, 1 May 1993 — OHA supports May native languages conferences [ARTICLE]

OHA supports May native languages conferences

by Jeff Clark OHA is co-sponsoring two language conferences this month on the Big Island. The Polynesian Languages Forum, May 15-19, followed by the Native Ameiiean Languages Issues Institute (NALI) Conference, May 19-23, both will be held at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo. In addition to OHA, conference hosts are ' Aha Pūnana Leo (organized 10 years ago to encourage and establish the Hawaiian language immersion preschools) and Hale Kuamo'o (a group whieh provides the professional support for Hawaiian language curriculum development and teacher training). The two non-profit organizations sought additional funding support from OHA of $25,000 for eaeh conference. This amount was pledged during the March 18 meeting of OHA's Board of Trustees. The Polynesian Languages Forum will bring together gov-ernment-appointed representa-

tives from all Polynesian eountries to share efforts being used to perpetuate native Polynesian languages. Ideas and information on how to keep langUages alive will

be exchanged, as will strategies for political leverage to get more resources.

Workshops at the NALI conferenee will deal with native American languages in all levels of education, from preschool to college, as well as in business,

government, the home and eommunity. Program research, implementation, evaluation, expansion

and maintenance will be covered, with attention paid to developing curriculum, training teachers, lobbying and finding ways to get resources.

Past conferences have brought together hundreds of native speakers and language professionals, who have focused on striking a halanee between traditional wisdom and modern education. OHA culture officer Pikake Pelekai said that participation in the NALI conference will show that "Hawaiians ean be seen as allies with Indians rather than as eompetitors for federal funds."

Funding these eonferences will help fortify the various Hawaiian language programs operating around the state.

"Down the road it's really going to help," said Pelekai. Hawaiian programs could really benefit from new ideas on getting resources, she said, adding that there are 500 children on the waiting list to get into the Hawaiian immersion program at Waiau Elementary School in Pearl City, O'ahu. Pelekai believes native language perpetuation is vital to the survival of a culture. "Language is important because it gives us identity, it gives insight into the thinking of a particular people. It gives us insight into the thought processes our kūpuna had. "Language is intangible, but it's that unifying, identifying thing. It describes our feelings, our actions, it dictates how we look at things, how we do things. And if you don't know the language, and don't have the cultural awareness that the language allows, it's difficult to really feel Hawaiian. Without the language you don't have the culture."

He lei aloha ka 'ōlelo; He lei heahea i ka malihini. j§lsV, Language is a lei of love ; ^33^ it calls out its invitatioit^fl&?3 t° our visitors.