Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 11, 1 November 1996 — BOARD BUSINESS [ARTICLE]

BOARD BUSINESS

Na Kuleana a ka Papa Kahu Waiwai A^enL^ahiMi ago, tho Hawaiian languagc was in danger of extinction. Today, a master's degree program in Hawaiian language and literature is being launched at the University of Hawaii-Hilo. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to help finance the program, whieh is the first Native Ameriean language master's program in the nation. The new master/ s program is being offered through the UH-Hilo Hawaiian Studies Department. OHA trustees, at their board meeting on Moloka'i October 24 heard testimony in both English and Hawaiian supporting the program. Clayton Hee, OHA chairman, called it a 'Tandmark" effort in the perpetuation of the Hawaiian language, onee nearly lost to general use. Hee compHmented UH President Kenneth Mortimer for his support of the master's program. "We estimate there are about 8,000 people studying Hawaiian today at various skill levels. A graduate study program means the level will increase all a!ong the spectrum." One Moloka'i resident said his children are learning Hawaiian through immersion classes. "I am fortunate to leam with them," he said. 'Too bad I couldn't teach them." Moanike'ala Akaka, Hawai'i island OHA trustee, praised the decision to locate the program at UH-Hilo. "The Hilo campus has the largest number of Hawaiian studies majors, she said. "It' s also the home of Hale Kuamo'o Center. " The center is the piineipal source of inservice training for Hawauan immersion teachers and OHA has also provided financing for the center. Akaka added that it's appropriate that this Hawaiian language and literature program is the first graduate program offered at UH-Hilo. OHA's contribution to the program will be about $305,000 over five years. That covers half of the expected cost of the program. The rest is to eome from UH-Hilo's budget. "lf s beautiful. It's a beautiful thing," said OHA Trustee Samuel Kealoha, (Moloka'i, Lāna'i). "I am proud to be part of it. " Kealoha chairs the OHA Committee on Education and Culture. Kalena Silva, UH-Hilo Hawai'ian Studies department chair said the program is to start with 12 students in the fall semester. The UH-Hilo Hawaiian Studies Department is the most developed program in Hawaii in the State, and the most developed Native American language program in the United States. Why is there a need for the master's program in Hawaiian? Because Hawai'i State constitution mandates promotion of the Hawaiian language, it's taught in the public schools and without graduate trained professionals, these mandates cannot be met as fully as other programs in the schools.