Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 7, 1 July 1993 — OHA promotes ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE]

OHA promotes ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi

Office of Hawaiian Affairs culture officer Pīkake Pelekai told the NALI conference attendees OHA was created to address the problems of Hawaiians, and that mandate includes encouraging the use of 'ōlelo Hawai'i. For instance, OHA has given money to both Pūnana Leo and the DOE immersion program. OHA also contributed $25,000 to eaeh of the two recent language conferences held in Hilo. Culture specialist Manu Boyd said, "Our reason for supporting NALI and the Polynesian Languages Forum was because of OHA's commitment to creating more speakers who speak Hawaiian."

OHA's education division holds two annual conferences, 'Aha Kūpuna and 'Aha 'Ōpio, whieh emphasize Hawaiian cultural values and promote Hawaiian language awareness. OHA has also provided cash awards for best use of the language in recent hula competitions. OHA's monthly newspaper, Ka Wai Ola O OHA, has just introduced a Hawaiian language eolumn that will run every month. The office aIso sponsors a weekly instructional 'ōlelo eolumn in the Maui Press. Finally, look for an Office of Hawaiian Affairs language conference to be held next year, tentatively in May. 'Ōlelo Hawai'i is important to OHA because, Pelekai says, "What identifies you as a Hawaiian is not only your blood and the land, but a!so your language and culture."