Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 4, 1 April 1990 — Hawaiian language study on rise [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian language study on rise

Hawaiian language programs throughout the state are experiencing dynamic growth, with the development of new programs and increased enrollment at all levels and campuses. At the University of Hawai'i at Manoa enrollment has doubled in the last five years. This increase, whieh is expected to eonhnue, ean be attributed to several factors. Most direct is the new two year language requirement for all students graduating from the university. Formerly, certain colleges within the university had no language requirement, but all students who entered UH on or after fall 1989 must now complete two years of language study in order to graduate. Another factor for the boom is the developing program in Hawaiian immersion education. Not only is the sight of young keiki carrying on in Hawaiian inspirational to all who see and hear them, but their needs in the classroom have generated employment opportunities in an area whieh onee seemed a dead end. The urgent need for teachers, translators, and curriculum developers has proven an impetus for students to eontinue the study of what may have originally been just a passing interest. The number of students completing four years of Hawaiian has doubled eaeh year for the past three years going from 3 to 6 to 13. Both Pua Hopkins anel Puakea Nogelmeier, the third and fourth year instructors, have eommented that the current group of continuing students are more advanced than those in previous classes. Without a doubt, another factor for the high number of continuing students is the diversity and vitality of Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian language staff, whieh includes Rubellite K. Johnson, named one of Hawaii's living treasures. To supplement the Iearning and comraderie of the classes, there are breakfast and beach conversation groups, work assignments at the immersion eenters, and Hui Aloha 'Aina - Tuahine cultural and

social functions. There are presently 14 staff members, including 2 native speakers, 5 full-time and 7 part-time faculty, in a program whieh services 328 students (an increase of 170 over 1985). In her recruiting, 'Ekela Kani'aupi'o, Operation Kua'ana director, a graduate of the Hawaiian language program and frequent lecturer, continues to stress the importance and joy of learning Hawaiian no matter what one's major may be. Diversity and flexibility in choosing a course of study is one of UH-Manoa's strengths. In addition to the 10 Hawaiian language and 36 Hawaiian Studies majors, students in advanced Hawaiian classes are also found to have tropical agriculture, anthropology, business, and education majors. A bachelor's degree is not usually chosen as the exit level by students who major in Hawaiian language or Hawaiian studies. Graduate degrees such as history, Pacific Island studies, geography, law and linguistics are frequently chosen. Those who wish to teach in the Department of Education immersion classes, or any other DOE program, ean become certified by earning a professional diploma in the College of Education. Because of the conviction of No'eau Warner, a Hawaiian language instructor and Ph. D. candidate in Education, that the success of the immersion program and ultimately, the perpetuation of the language, rests on teachers with solid primary education training, several of his graduating students plan to join the half-dozen that are already in the College of Education. Teaching and studying Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa is very exciting these days. There is hope that the language will onee again flourish and that knowledge of Hawaiian will be both personally and pragmatically satisfying. Anyone having questions about summer or fall courses may eall Dr. Emily 'Ioli'i Hawkins, coordinator, or any of the faculty at 9488672.