Ma hope ka ho’opau ʻana i ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi i loko i nā kula Hawaiʻi i ka makahiki 1896. ʻAʻole hiki ke lohe ʻia ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a hiki ʻehā mau hanauna. I kēia lā i ulu pono ai ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi i loko o ka lāhui Hawaiʻi. ʻAʻole pono e kū kanaka maoli no ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, me he mea la, ʻaʻole pono e kū kanaka pelekania no ka ʻōlelo haole. ʻO ia nō, He ʻōlelo a ka aupuni Hawaiʻi ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Ola pono ʻole i kēia mau lā, no ka mea ua poina ʻia ka ʻike e hoʻomaopopo ai. Pono kākou e huli a hahai i moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi mai ka mole mai. Iā mākou i hoʻomaopopo ai pēla, hoʻoikaika mākou i ka pilina o ka ʻāina nei.
ʻOiai mākou e ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, hoʻomanaʻo mākou i nā moʻolelo a me nā mea kūikawā o Hawaiʻi nei. No ka aloha ʻāina oʻiaʻiʻo, a me, no ka hoʻolako ʻia, e ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi kākou. Ma hope hiki ke hoʻolana ka waʻa i ka honua a pau.
We Should Speak
After Hawaiian language was banned in 1896, it would not be heard in schools for four generations. Today ‘ōlelo Hawai’i is thriving in the hearts of the people. You don’t have to consider yourself Hawaiian to speak Hawaiian. Just as you don’t have to be Indo-European to speak English. In fact Hawaiian is one of the official languages of Hawai’i.
Many of our mental health issues today come from a lack of identity. One of the ways we can become healthy again is to turn to culture, tradition, and ritual that have deep roots here in this place. As we remember the history and people of this special place we can gain a deeper sense of connection to these islands.
‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi is a way we can remember the stories and history that makes Hawai’i special. The Hawaiian language has taught me how to care for the land, reconnect to the lessons of the past, and become better equipped to take on global challenges.
Please feel free to reach out to me samuelpe@hawaii.edu if you would like to get together and talk story, learn ʻōlelo together, and share your story of why you ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
