Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1988 — Students' Pleas to Speak Hawaiian Went Unheeded [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Students' Pleas to Speak Hawaiian Went Unheeded

La Ho'oulu Speaker Sticks to English Language

Nearly 200 people ranging in age from preschoolers to kupuna attended the eighth annual La Ho'oulu 'Olelo Hawaii or Hawaiian Language Day Feb. 13 to hear, speak and practice Hawaiian for a day at the Kauai Community College in Puhi. The attendance of Kauai's Punana Leo Hawaiian speaking three-year-olds and seven high schools from Oahu, Hawaii and Kauai were among highlights of the day-long program.

Henry Nalaielua, park ranger and resident of Kalaupapa, Molokai, was the day's main speaker. He presented a slide show on the history of the community. According to reports, Nalaielua was a disappointment especially to the students who repeatedly called on him to make his delivery in Hawaiian but instead stuck to English, indicating he was more comfortable with the latter. Traditionally, no English is spoken at these Hawaiian language days whieh are also held on Hawaii and Oahu. lt was announced that Hawaiian Language Week on Oahu will be Apr. 24-30. No date was given for Hawaii. Schools represented at the workshop were St. Louis, Waipahu and Kalani from Oahu; Pahoa of Hawaii; and Kauai, Waimea and Kapaa of the host island.

Students played word games where teams of three would have to guess the Hawaiian word for what their teammates were drawing on the board. It is a very educational and challenging game. There was also a speech contest and winners of Hawaiian books were Kapualani Fuagutu, 'Ilima Bright, Kekoa Riveira, Kaualani Youn and Kau'i Oana. There were also door prizes and entertainment by the Hawaiian language teachers and Kahelelani Serenaders. La Ho'oulu 'Olelo Hawaii was founded by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. and Byron Hokulani Cleeland. Keale onee more was the master of ceremonies. Hawaiian luneh was prepared and served by parents of the Punana Leo keikis.

Kalaupapa resident and park ranger Henry Nalaielua addresses packed audience at Kauai Community College activities center. Nalaielua felt more comfortable speaking in English despite students' calls to speak in Hawaiian.

With remarkable confidence, these three-year-old students from Kauai's Punana Leo Hawaiian language preschool speak individually in Hawaiian. Reassuring them is their teacher, Elama Kanahele.

Sharing a joke in Hawaiian with OHA Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. are these Waimea students, Jolina Keamoai, Pegge Kaohelaulii, Colleen Woodruff and Joni Keamoai.

Students from Pahoa High and lntermediate School on Hawaii pose with Off iee of Hawaiian Affairs Board Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. during break at La Ho'oulu 'Olelo Hawaii.

Hawaiian language teachers from left to right Eric Kalani Flores, Koki Williams, Keoni lnciong and llei Beniamina lead the audience in singing Hawaiian songs.