Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2014 — ʻAha Hoʻokūkū ʻŌelo Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAha Hoʻokūkū ʻŌelo Hawaiʻi

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I 'ŌleloLanguage I Competition I was held Friday, I Feb.28atKūlana 'Ōiwi Hālau on Moloka'i to celebrate Mahina Aloha 'Ōlelo, Hawaiian Language Month, whieh is a statewide observance signed into law last year. Over 50 participants of all ages demonstrated their skill in two eompetitions: Pa'ana'au (memorized verse) and Uluwale (impromptu) two-

to four-minute answers to random questions. The verses and questions honored Hawaiian ali'i and Moloka'i history. The selected verses were passages still used today. Keiki in first to second grade recited the Law of the Splintered Paddle, whieh grants protection to those traveling across the islands. 01der keiki recited passages from the Kumulipo. The participants were assessed on their greeting, correct pronunciation, proper inflections, tone and body language reflecting the verse, and closing words. The participants could not just memorize the words, they had to understand it to pause and accentuate in the right places. The highest scoring participants won prizes and Hawaiian works of art. The highest overall score of the evening won a hand-carved niho palaoa perpetual trophy carved in the shape of a traditional pendant worn by Hawaiian chiefs. It represents a tongue to symbolize language. The event was a celebration of the preservation and perpetuation of the Hawaiian language, whieh was nearly lost. Just 117 years ago, a U.S. law

outlawed Hawaiian language in both

puhlie and private schools. By 1984, the number of fluent speakers was confined to elders and a few dozen children. Three years later, Hawaiian language was reintroduced into puhlie schools with the opening of the first elementary school immersion classes. The 'Aha Ho'okūkū 'Ōlelo demonstrated that the Hawaiian language is vibrantly alive and being passed along to the next generation in the Moloka'i community. Event

participants were not just school-age children, but community speakers from all walks of life such as gas station attendants, pharmacy employees, librarians, firefighters and other oeeupations. Today, the Hawaiian language doesn't just live in schools; it is used in the community. The event was so successful that the two-hour event tumed into a four-hour event because of dozens of last-minute adult registrations. The community rallied around the event by attending and organizations showcased language-learning opportunities on Moloka'i. Resources on island included UH Maui College introductory and intermediate courses, Kualapu'u Charter School's beginning classes for parents, Keawanui Learning Center's adult beginning language course, and Pūnana Leo o Moloka'i cultural preschool for keiki. The event reminded everyone who attended and participated - Hawaiian language speakers and non-speak-ers - that they were honoring the kūpuna who kept the language alive and inspiring the perpetuation of 'ōlelo in the Moloka'i community. ■

LEO 'ELELE V www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org TRUSTEE MESSSAGES ' NATiVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS l FEATURES I EVENTS

Cūlette Y. Machade

ChairpErsūn, TrustEE Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i

'Aha Ho'okūkū 'Ōlelo Hawai'i Competition 2014 event coordinators, from left: U'ilani Ramos, Uluhoni Waialeale, 'lolani Hamakua-Kuoha, Kilia Purdy-Avelino, Kalei Kawaa and Manuwai Peters Courtesyphoto