February is recognized as Mahina ‘Olelo Hawaii, or “Hawaiian Language Month,” and Kauai joined the statewide celebrations and festivities.
Those included Ola Ka ‘I Kauai Niihau, or “The language thrives,” on Saturday at the Kukui Grove Center where pop-up activities and exhibits peppered the shopping center through the Jamba Juice area.
“We like having events like this in the shopping centers because people get to experience hearing the language being used,” said Alohilani Rogers, one of the Kauai organizers along with Malia Nobriga.
The day of celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii included school presentation of mele and speeches, Mele Hawaii, prize giveaways, speech contests, Ho‘ike Hai Olelo, Ho‘opa‘au, a scavenger hunt, the continuation of a konane tournament, and a free plant giveaway by the National Tropical Botanical Gardens.
Marine instructor and navigator Steve Soltysick created a buzz at the Kauai Ocean Discovery where kupuna volunteers distributed a newly released Kohola educational poster by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and keiki constructed their own “Moana” canoe.
Tucked away in a corner off the stage, Girl Scouts and their leaders, Jade Moss, Teagan Gonzalez, Tuahiwi Kaauwai and Meagan Deets of Girl Scout Troop 14 of Kapaa, maintained a table offering the full range of this year’s Girl Scout Cookies with the solicitations and the names of each flavor in ‘Olelo Hawaii.
Support for this popular community gathering came from as far away as Washington, D.C., as the Hawaii congressional delegation — including Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and Representatives Jill Tokuda and Ed Case — introduced resolutions on Mahina ‘Olelo Hawaii on Friday.
“‘Olelo Hawaii carries the stories, laws and worldview of our islands and its native people,” said Tokuda in the Friday release. “The revitalization o f the Hawaiian language stands as one of the most powerful examples of community-driven resilience in our nation, and emphasizes the important link between language and identity,”
Hirono, in addition to praising ‘Olelo Hawaii, also led a spotlight forum to protect Minority Serving Institutions from whom millions of dollars have been withdrawn or frozen.
“Mahina Olelo Hawaii, Hawaiian Language Month, serves as a testament to the resilience of the Native Hawaiian community, and the importance of Hawaiian history and culture,” Hirono said in a press release. “Despite laws and practices that banned ‘Olelo Hawaii from being taught in schools or used in official government documents — nearly driving it to extinction — the Native Hawaiian community kept their language alive, and today, it is flourishing.
“Indigenous languages are a critical part of American history that cannot be erased. I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this resolution to celebrate Mahina ‘Olelo Hawaii, and I will keep advocating for the preservation of Native Hawaiian language and culture.”
Schatz, who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has authored several laws promoting native languages, including the Native American Language Resource Center Act which awarded a consortium led by the University of Hawaii at Hilo $6.6 million to establish the first National Native American Resource Center.
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