Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 2, 1 February 1994 — Community invited to plan Hawaiian language ʻaha [ARTICLE]

Community invited to plan Hawaiian language ʻaha

by Jeff Clark Maopopo iā 'oe ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i? (Do you understand Hawaiian?) Whether you answer that question "'ae" or "huh?" you should know the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will hold a Hawaiian language conferenee in late May. Tentatively titled I Ka 'Ōlelo (In The Language), the conference will be held May 21-22 at Kamehameha Schools. The conference's intent is "to increase the number of speakers of Hawaiian, and to have Hawaiian spoken in more and more places and situations," said OHA culture specialist Manu Boyd. Organizers hope to devise specific Hawaiian language goais and objectives for OHA, and to create a plan that would encourage Hawaiian language use in all places. Anyone interested in the Hawaiian language is encouraged to participate. The first planning meeting was held on Jan. 3 at OH A. Leaders in the field of Hawaiian language education, including Larry Kimura, Kauanoe Kamanā and Puakea Nogelmeier are on the conference planning committee. In further preparation for the conference, interested parties are invited to attend community meetings held during February and March. The meeting dales are: Feb. 5, Kailua-Kona (UHH West Hawai'i Campus); Feb. 12, Hilo (UH-Hilo); Feb. 19, Kahului (Maui Community College); Feb. 23, Moloka'i (Ho'olehua Recreation Center); Feb. 26 and March 5, O'ahu (location to be announced); March 12, Līhu'e (Kaua'i Community College). For more information, eall OHA's culture office at 587-2677; from the neighbor islands use the state's toll-free number: 1-800-468-4644.