Case Study:Case Study:HawaiianHawaiian

LING 345/640GLING 345/640G

Yuko OtsukaYuko Otsuka

In your opinion, what was In your opinion, what was the the major factormajor factor that caused the that caused the decline of the Hawaiian decline of the Hawaiian language? language?

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Discuss some Discuss some problemsproblems that the that the revitalization of Hawaiian was revitalization of Hawaiian was confronted with.confronted with.

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Discuss the history of Discuss the history of pūnana leopūnana leo and its role in the revitalization of and its role in the revitalization of Hawaiian. Hawaiian.

What is What is ‘Ahahui ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i‘Ahahui ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i? ? What is its function in the What is its function in the revitalization of Hawaiian?revitalization of Hawaiian?

In your opinion, to what extent In your opinion, to what extent has the Hawaiian revitalization has the Hawaiian revitalization effort been effort been successfulsuccessful? ?

In your opinion, how ‘In your opinion, how ‘alivealive’ is ’ is Hawaiian now? Hawaiian now?

What needs to be done to secure What needs to be done to secure the safety of Hawaiian the safety of Hawaiian in the in the futurefuture? What would be most ? What would be most effective in making and/or effective in making and/or keeping the language alive?keeping the language alive?

Early PeriodEarly Period

Missionaries chose to use Hawaiian Missionaries chose to use Hawaiian instead of teaching the natives instead of teaching the natives EnglishEnglish

No effort to ban HawaiianNo effort to ban Hawaiian 1867 Punahou (school for the children 1867 Punahou (school for the children

of chiefs) added Hawaiian to the of chiefs) added Hawaiian to the curriculumcurriculum

Older missionaries oppose to the idea Older missionaries oppose to the idea of introducing English to public of introducing English to public schools schools

On the Other HandOn the Other Hand

Hawaiians wanted to learn Hawaiians wanted to learn English, making “a connection English, making “a connection between the English language between the English language and the power and material and the power and material wealth displayed by those who wealth displayed by those who spoke it” spoke it”

(Schutz 1994: 340)(Schutz 1994: 340)

Position of Hawaiian Position of Hawaiian Education Weakened Education Weakened Drastic decrease in population due to Drastic decrease in population due to

imported diseases imported diseases

Increase in the number of immigrant Increase in the number of immigrant laborers from a number of different laborers from a number of different language backgrounds language backgrounds

Difficulty of producing materials in Difficulty of producing materials in vernacularvernacular

Teacher training in Hawaiian was difficult Teacher training in Hawaiian was difficult

HistoryHistory

1887 1887 Kamehameha School forbade the Kamehameha School forbade the use of use of Hawaiian on the school Hawaiian on the school groundsgrounds

18931893 Overthrow of the Hawaiian Overthrow of the Hawaiian KingdomKingdom

18961896 School law made the use of School law made the use of Hawaiian in Hawaiian in schoolsschools illegal illegal

Decline of Hawaiian Decline of Hawaiian LanguageLanguage Radical decline in the number of Hawaiian-Radical decline in the number of Hawaiian-

language schools: language schools: 150150 in 1880 in 1880 00 in in 19021902

1903, “those who spoke only Hawaiian found it 1903, “those who spoke only Hawaiian found it difficult to find jobs, a reversal of the situation difficult to find jobs, a reversal of the situation thirty years earlier, when foreigners needed to thirty years earlier, when foreigners needed to learn Hawaiian in order to do business” learn Hawaiian in order to do business”

1917, “there is no child under 15 years of age 1917, “there is no child under 15 years of age who can converse correctly in the mother who can converse correctly in the mother tongue of this land” tongue of this land”

Again, note:Again, note:

The decline is due to “the The decline is due to “the desire of the Hawaiians to have desire of the Hawaiians to have their children taught the their children taught the English language” English language”

(Schutz 1994: 352)(Schutz 1994: 352)back

More HistoryMore History

1978 1978 Constitutional amendment and Constitutional amendment and related related legislation established legislation established Hawaiian, along Hawaiian, along with English, as with English, as official languagesofficial languages of of the State of the State of Hawaii Hawaii

19861986 The restriction against the The restriction against the Hawaiian Hawaiian language in public schools language in public schools was was removedremoved

Reintroducing Reintroducing Hawaiian in EducationHawaiian in Education

1923 Kamehameha School introduced 1923 Kamehameha School introduced Hawaiian as a subject Hawaiian as a subject actors leading to actors leading to language losslanguage loss

1962 version of School Laws include explicit 1962 version of School Laws include explicit instructions as to the time allotted to instructions as to the time allotted to Hawaiian in particular schools Hawaiian in particular schools

1966 English Standard Schools were 1966 English Standard Schools were abolished abolished

1921 UH started to offer Hawaiian 1921 UH started to offer Hawaiian

On The Other HandOn The Other Hand

There was strong opposition There was strong opposition from the parents and the from the parents and the project was abandonedproject was abandoned

The lack of qualified instructors The lack of qualified instructors was a serious problem (UH)was a serious problem (UH)

RenaissanceRenaissance

An increase in tourism and more interest in An increase in tourism and more interest in Hawaiian music was responsible for the Hawaiian music was responsible for the revival (Henry P. Judd 1939) revival (Henry P. Judd 1939)

In the late 1930s, the increased interest in In the late 1930s, the increased interest in Hawaiiana seems to have come mainly from Hawaiiana seems to have come mainly from outside the Hawaiian community itselfoutside the Hawaiian community itself

UH enrolment in Hawaiian language UH enrolment in Hawaiian language courses increased: courses increased: 2727 in 1961-1962in 1961-1962

1,2771,277 in 1992-1993in 1992-1993

PPūūnana Leonana Leo

Maori Maori Ngaa koohanga ReoNgaa koohanga Reo ‘language nests’ for pre- ‘language nests’ for pre-school children school children

In 1983 a small group of Hawaiian speaking In 1983 a small group of Hawaiian speaking educators formed the educators formed the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo‘Aha Pūnana Leo to to reestablish Hawaiian medium education. reestablish Hawaiian medium education.

Family run preschools to assist the few Family run preschools to assist the few families trying to revive Hawaiian in the families trying to revive Hawaiian in the home.home.

The first language nest school opened in The first language nest school opened in Kaua‘i in 1984.Kaua‘i in 1984.

Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘iKula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i

1987 1987 A pilot Hawaiian Language immersion A pilot Hawaiian Language immersion Project for Project for kindergarten to grade1 students at kindergarten to grade1 students at two two elementary school sites.elementary school sites.

1988 1988 The Immersion Pilot Project extended to The Immersion Pilot Project extended to grade 2.grade 2.

19891989 A limited K-6 program with transition to A limited K-6 program with transition to English English during upper elementary grades.during upper elementary grades.

1995 1995 Board approval of establishment of two Board approval of establishment of two K-12 K-12 sites.sites.

And Now…And Now…

In 1992, 131 children enrolled In 1992, 131 children enrolled

In the 1999-2000 school year, there In the 1999-2000 school year, there are approximately are approximately 2,0002,000 students students enrolled in programsenrolled in programs

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