Celebrate Hawaiian Language Month with an introduction to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

From common greetings to place names and street signs, we are surrounded by the Hawaiian language. Whether you were born or raised here or moved to the islands recently, having a foundational knowledge of the Hawaiian language connects us to our environment and culture.

It is our responsibility as educators to ensure our keiki have the foundational knowledge of the language of this land. This is an introduction to give you a basic understanding of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and its importance to the place we call home.

In honor of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), the Hawaii State Teachers Association Human and Civil Rights (HCR) Committee compiled a series of lessons to provide you with basic language building blocks. During the first week, we’ll introduce you to the Hawaiian alphabet, syllables, diacritics, and pronunciation, as well as key values in Hawaiian culture. In the second week, we’ll cover words related to school and learning. The third week will address words commonly found in nature. We’ll end the month with land divisions and features.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Hawaiian language was ripped from our kupuna. Prior to this, ʻŌlelo Hawaii was the first language of Hawaiʻi’s people and the official language of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It has taken decades for the Native Hawaiian community to reclaim it, part of which has been through the struggle to establish Kula Kaiapuni, or public Hawaiian language immersion schools. But even with modern resurgence, its recovery is far from over.

Language loss is a global phenomenon among indigenous peoples as a result of colonialism. We must encourage our keiki, our students, and our future generations to learn the language of this land and ensure its survival. We share the onus of keeping our Hawaiian values, beliefs, and language alive.

I ka ʻōlelo nō ke ola, i ka ʻōlelo nō ka make. In speech is life, in speech is death. We thrive in the Hawaiian language and without it, the culture also dies.

E ola mau ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi! Let the Hawaiian language live forever!

Please feel free to share this resource with others! Use the URL: www.hsta.org/olelohawaii

Download our Introduction to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi lessons