Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 10, 1 October 2010 — UH-Hilo Hawaiian Language College gains international accreditation [ARTICLE]

UH-Hilo Hawaiian Language College gains international accreditation

The World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) in August at its annual meeting at Sami University College in Guovdageaidnu, Norway, awarded its first accreditation to the University of Hawaii at Hilo Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language for its Hawaiian Mauli Ola Education System P-20 education system. This accreditation is given to institutions that demonstrate a strong educational commitment to language, culture and traditional practices in their community. The use of Hawaiian language for instruction in the P-20 system has a proven record of yielding eollege and career ready high school graduates. "Several features of this accreditation make this recognition significant," said Dr. Kalena Silva, Director of Ke'elikōlani College. "Indigenous people throughout the world are losing their language to extinction. This WINHEC accreditation recognizes Ke'elikōlani College's success in revitalizing Hawaiian and in creating an educational model from whieh other indigenous peoples may learn and take inspiration." Founded on the principles of the 1993 UnitedNations Declaration on

the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the WINHEC provides an intemational forum and support for Indigenous Peoples to pursue eommon goals through higher education.