Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 5, 1 May 1985 — ʻAha Punana Leo Opens Enrollment [ARTICLE]

ʻAha Punana Leo Opens Enrollment

'Aha Punana Leo ine., an organization dedicated to teaching young children the Hawaiian language, is acception applications at three locations — one eaeh on Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii. Enrollment is limited to 15 students eaeh at classes in Kekaha, Kauai; Honolulu; and Hilo, Hawaii. Hawaiian parents are encouraged to take an interest in having their youngsters leam the Hawaiian language.

Applications are being accepted for those children between the agres of two and four years old. Learning the native tongue has long been the dream and goal of the Hawaiian people. It is a precious gift many never had and Punana Leo is one way of giving the Hawaiian language to Hawaii's children. Children will be placed in a specially prepared environment where only Hawaiian is spoken. They will leam to speak by listening and by observing everyday activities. Classes are held from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and there is a charge of $110 per month. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs provided "seed" or start up money to get the program on the road.

Interested parents may write or phone: • Punana Leo O Kekaha, P.O. Box 10, Kekaha, 96752. Telephones: 337-1031 (day), 742-6784 (night). • Punana Leo O Honolulu, P.O. Box 61158, Honolulu, 96822. Telephones: 948-6419 (day), 734-7492 (night). • Punana Leo O Hilo, P.O. Box 10029, Hilo, 96721. Telephones: %l-9454 (day), %l-5747 (night). Kauanoe Kamana, Hawaiian Studies instructor at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, is the program coordinator. Larry Kimura, language instructor at UH Manoa, is Punana Leo's founder.