ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

The growth of Hawaiian language immersion schools has exploded in recent years. Fifty years ago, there were only a handful of Hawaiian language speakers. Now, the community is thriving. With the Center for Oral History, we're sharing how that story stretches from kupuna to keiki.

This month we are celebrating Mahina ʻŌlelo Month, or Hawaiian Language month. Our stories are all in ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi from a collection of interviews with kūpuna who were born in Kona around the turn of the 20th century.

HPR’s Paige Okamura, the host of our Hawaiian music show Hawaiʻi Kulāiwi, talked with The Green’s Brad Watanabe about how the contest encourages more people to learn the Hawaiian language.

The Hawaiian language was banned in schools starting in 1896 and was not heard in classrooms for four generations, according to the DOE. In recognition of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and as part of our project with the UH Mānoa Center for Oral History, we focus on the evolution of the use of Hawaiian from education to music.

A bill before Hawaiʻi lawmakers would require teaching ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, or Hawaiian language, to all public school students. Critics argue recruiting qualified Hawaiian language teachers is already a challenge. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has more.

The growing number of Hawaiian language accounts on social media is sparking discussions on how ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi can take advantage of platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance talks food insecurities, upcoming Ag conference; HPR reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi breaks down the impact of Hawaiian language influencers on social media; Manu Minute features the song - or is it the cackle? - of the Erckel's francolin; and the director of UH's new theatre production discusses what it means to be Asian in 2022

Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance talks food insecurities, upcoming Ag conference; HPR reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi breaks down the impact of Hawaiian language influencers on social media; Manu Minute features the song - or is it the cackle? - of the Erckel's francolin; and the director of UH's new theatre production discusses what it means to be Asian in 2022

It’s been three years since the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruled that the state has a constitutional duty to provide a Hawaiian language immersion education. Increasing demand is sparking conversations about access to learning ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has more.

Thirteen Hawaiʻi students have achieved something never done before. Their projects in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi are now featured — without translation — in the Smithsonian Museum’s National History Day online showcase.