Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 2, 1 February 2017 — February is ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi month [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

February is ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi month

ByTreenaShapiro You may have noticed Ka Wai Ola' s cover looks different this month - more like a pre-statehood 'ōlelo Hawai'i nūpepa than OHA's regular monthly offering. It's OHA's way of marking 'Ōlelo Hawai'i month, as February was officially designated in 2012 to celebrate and encourage the use of the Hawaiian language. Included as part of OHA' s bill package, the legisla-

tion that gave 'ōlelo Hawai'i its own month requires "that all letterheads, documents, symbols and emblems of the State and other political subdivisions include accurate and appropriate Hawaiian names and words, including proper Hawaiian spelling and punetuation." 'Ōlelo Hawai'i has eome a long way since the 1980s, when the language was considered nearly extinct with fewer than 50 keiki lluent in the language. A number of initiatives, including Hawaiian language immersion schools and programs, have led to considerably more speakers. According to a state Department of Business, Eeonomie Development and Tourismreportin 2016, 18,610 residents speak Hawaiian in the

home. However, while Hawaiian is an official state language, like English, there's no mandatory Hawaiian language instruction in the puhlie schools, and government business continues to be conducted almost entirely in English. To encourage more use of the language, OHA provides support for schools and

organizations similarly committed to preserving the indigenous culture and within this OHA newspaper, a new 'ōlelo Hawai'i eolumn will be launching next month. The insert included in this issue is our offering to those who refuse to let Hawai'i's indigenous language disappear, including many who are helping to revitalize the language by teaching a new generation of speakers and translators. The special section does not include translations or

summaries to be faithful to the hundreds of Hawaiian language nūpepathat inspired it. We hope it inspires you to learn

more about Hawaiian culture and language, and perhaps even begin working toward lluency in 'ōlelo Hawai'i. For keiki, 'Aha Pūnana Leo offers programs for infants and toddlers, as well as family-run preschools that include 'ohana in weekly language and culture classes. In addition, the Hawai'i Department of Education's Kaiapuni schools offer Hawaiian language immersion programs that offer instruction exclusively in 'ōlelo Hawai'i through the fifth-grade.

For those already out of high school, I the University of Hawai'i campuses offer Hawaiian language classes for speakers at all skill levels. However, heading to campus isn't practical for many adults. Luckily, there is a range of options for learners from those who want to piek up some basic eonversational Hawaiian to those who prefer the rigor of a college-level course. You ean find a sampling of options helow. IN PERSON > Nā Mea Hawai'i Kumu Kaimana Chock offers a basic introduction to Hawaiian language every other Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. http : //www.nameahawaii ,com/ events/2017-02/ DISTANCE LEARNING > KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS' DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM A'O MAUKA This online enrichment program for adults allows you to learn on your own computer, and your own time. http://ksdl.ksbe.edu/aomakua > 'AHA PŪNANA LEO'S NIUOLAHIKI DISTANCE LEARNING This self-directed online course allows you to pay for a chapter at a time to move from basic to more advanced language skills. http : //niuolahiki. ahapunanaleo . org VIDE0 LESS0NS > 'ŌIWI TV'S KA LEO 'ŌIWI This 13-episode series offers a basic foundation in 'ōlelo Hawai'i through language instruction and review, cultural activities and mele from musical guests. Episodes ean be streamed online or downloaded. http : //oi wi . tv/kaleooi wi C0URSES AND RESOURCES The Merwin Conservancy offers even more options from college classrooms to online learning tools in "Language Matters: Resources for Learning to Speak Hawaiian" by Sara īekuka at http:// www.merwinconservancy.org/20 1 6/03/ language-matters-resources-for-learning-to-speak-hawaiian. ■

GULTURE

www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS