A hui of Hawaiian organizations celebrated Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) with Ola Ka ʻĪ Kauaʻi-Niihau on February 10. The celebration brought together more than 100 students from Hawaiian language education schools on Kauaʻi, teachers, ʻohana and more than 30 community organizations.
The Kauaʻi-Niihau event showcased ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi through music, hula, storytelling, games, student performances and a Hawaiian language speech competition hosted by ʻAha Hui ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Interactive booths featured aloha ʻāina activities for keiki and adults to be immersed in a language rich experience.
Led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Kanaeokana, Kamehameha Schools Kaiāulu and others, the event was the second Ola Ka ʻĪ in a series of Hawaiian language fairs happening throughout Hawaiʻi in February.
- More Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: Revitalizing Hawaiian language
Tune in: Hawaiian word of the day’s 30-year journey
“We love organizing these kinds of events as Hawaiʻinuiākea and ʻAha Hui ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi because we need to hear our language in all different spaces,” said Malia Nobrega-Olivera, director of strategic partnerships and community engagement at Hawaiʻinuiākea. “That’s a part of Kanaeokana’s objective of renormalizing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and that’s really a mission for so many of us that are out in our community.”
“As a member of this hui of Native Hawaiian organizations, Kamehameha Schools is honored to help to host the first Ola Ka ʻĪ Kauaʻi-Niihau,” said Manuwai Peters, senior project manager with Kamehameha Schoolsʼ Kealaiwikuamoʻo. “These events help bring to fruition a future where you can go to places like a shopping center and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi—and people you encounter there speak back to you in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.”
Upcoming Ola Ka ʻĪ events
Ola Ka ʻĪ Maui Nui
Saturday, February 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center (Maui)
Ola Ka ʻĪ ʻEwa
Saturday, February 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ka Makana Aliʻi (Oʻahu)
