'O Ke Kuleana Ka Makana (The Responsibility Is The Gift)

Tonight we have the last meeting of our Hawaiian Language class. I have to give a speech using each sentence pattern that we've learned. It's been a six-week course taught by a teacher from the Hawaiian Language Immersion schools, and a real eye-opener.

When we first arrived here last August, I was intent on finding some type of community class to learn more about Hawaiian culture. I was very confused because there didn't seem to be any, other than hula dancing, and even those offerings were limited. So, as in the past, I figured the very best way to understand the culture is to learn the language. Try as I might, the only Hawaiian language class I could find was one at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and it was expensive and didn't start for several months. Why aren't there classes at the local Community College in Hawaiian language, I asked myself. I was befuddled.

Lo and behold, a flyer came in the mail from Kaimuki Adult School, offering low-stress community classes for adults held at Kaimuki High School in the evenings, and one class in Hawaiian language meeting two nights a week for six weeks for $10. It was a SIGN! So I went and signed up.

Now I know why there are so few Hawaiian language classes. There are very few teachers, and here's why:

Did you know that from 1893 until 1978...yes, 1978!...the Hawaiian language was banned, outlawed, forbidden, illegal? It was. That means that all during that time when Elvis was singing Blue Hawai'i in the movie theatres, and we were watching Hawai'i Five-O on TV and listening to Don Ho and singing Aloha 'Oe, Hawaiian families had to discourage their children from learning and speaking their own language because it was illegal to use it. I never knew this and I have to say, it makes me very sad and kinda pisses me off. >.<

Finally, in 1978, 'Olelo Hawai'i was publicly and legally restored to its people and declared an official language. But by 1984, the language was nearly dead, and a movement began, to establish Hawaiian language immersion schools to raise native speakers and preserve the language that had almost been lost. So the immersion schools program began in 1987. As I understand it, they are charter schools and part of the Hawai'i State Department of Education.

The program is thriving, and so is the language, relatively speaking. There are now over 10,000 native speakers. But the number of teachers is still pretty low and they're all busy, either with the immersion schools program or the Hawaiian Studies program at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo on the Big Island.

Consequently, I feel extremely blessed to have found this kindergarten teacher with a graduate degree from UH, who is willing to spend six weeks of evenings away from her young family to teach a rapidly dwindling bunch of adults the foundations of the Hawaiian language. She's done a remarkable job, even though there are only twelve of us left out of a starting class of about thirty. She says it's now our responsibility to share and thereby preserve the beautiful Hawaiian language.

I feel honored and grateful and inspired to do so. As with any any worthwhile endeavor that brings great rewards, the responsibility is the gift.

Wish me luck with my speech...I'm really nervous...

Aloha,

-Laura