For ʻAleʻale’s inaugural feature article, we sat down with Mokuola Honua’s Director, Amy Kalili, to talk “shop” about the work accomplished over the past three years since inception and what’s in store going forward.

To see our first newsletter, click here.

Q: Before we jump in to the work going on with the Center, give us some insight into the name of our brand new newsletter - “ʻAleʻale”?

A: Interestingly enough, ʻAleʻale is directly related to the core of Mokuola Honua’s work. Mokula Honua Global Center For Indigenous Language Excellence is named for the small island in Hilo Bay called Mokuola, traditionally said to be a piece of the neighboring island of Maui that was dislodged by the hook of the cultural hero Māui. In the story of Mokuola, the island sails through the air landing close to shore in Hilo Bay. When the island landed in the water, energy was released and traveled out to other lands like the ripples from a pebble thrown into a pond. “ʻAleʻale” is a Hawaiian word for such ripples and represents the intent of our newsletter to act as those ripples traveling out from our Center to all of our Mokuola Honua ʻohana or family, keeping us connected via information sharing.

Q: Remind us again what the impetus and goal of Mokuola Honua is.

A. The progress that we have experienced in the Hawaiian language movement since the mid-1980’s has been due in no small part to the relationships we developed early on with other indigenous peoples working on initiatives to revitalize their own languages. It allowed us to share and learn about what works really well and also what hasn’t worked so we weren’t individually recreating the wheel as we moved forward. These collaborative efforts grew organically out of necessity given we all represent such small sparse communities as compared to the widespread presence of the world’s dominant languages that threaten our ʻōlelo ʻōiwi, our indigenous languages. Mokuola Honua was born from the desire to bring a bit of structure and intention to this organic network.

Q: So what is on the horizon for Mokuola Honua?

A: While Mokuola Honua is still early on in its development years, having four years behind us now, we feel like we’ve put in the tenets of what this center is going to do moving forward. We will continue to work closely with the Hawaiian language consortium, which includes ʻAha Pūnana Leo, Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu and the Hawaiian language college, to see how we can bring other indigenous language revitalization and normalization communities and advocates into this network in ways are of real benefit and impact.

This will include physical gatherings via our symposiums and site visitation program, providing a communication portal disseminating resources to the network, supporting indigenous scholars outside Hawaiʻi through the Hawaiian Language College’s degree-granting programs, identifying existing and new collaborative research and publications and engaging in national and international indigenous language advocacy efforts. 

The most recent development that we are excited to share with everyone is the upgraded Mokuola Honua website and particularly the resources section. This digital resource section is something that we will continue to maintain and develop and while the value of gathering alo-a-he-alo, or face-to-face, to keep learning and sharing is fundamental to how we as indigneous peoples operate, this “virtual communications portal” will keep us connected even when we don’t have the resource to gather in person.

Q: What is Mokuola Honua doing for IYIL?

A: First and foremost we are excited about and thankful for the opportunity to engage in the 2019 “International Year of Indigenous languages” (IYIL) activities. The international year is a huge mechanism and opportunity for us as indigenous language advocates to highlight the importance of ensuring that our languages survive and thrive. There are global events taking place and there is an amazing communications and  social media  effort being implemented. It is providing all of us working in our own individual indigenous communities a global platform to highlight the work being done and the necessity to see all of our ʻōlelo ʻōiwi live and thrive.

I am honored, in my capacity with Mokuola Honua, to be representing the indigenous peoples of the Pacific region on UNESCO’s steering committee (SC) for the year. It’s been a privilege to work with the other steering committee members given the level of experience and expertise that they represent, not only as individuals but as members of their communities. Being a part of the SC is a significant role Mokuola Honua is playing in the overall 2019 IYIL efforts.

Q: In addition to being on the SC, what else does Mokuola Honua have lined up for IYIL?

A: We launched a pilot program this year called the Pulakaulāhui Youth Advocacy Program. It is premised on the understanding that the work that we’re doing to ensure our indigenous languages thrive is directly dependent on future generations engaging in the work and being advocates themselves.

Pulakaulāhui was an opportunity for us here in Hawaiʻi to work with some of the youth who are products of the advocacy that took place 35 years ago. Had it not been for those pioneers of the Hawaiian language movement who were basically parents who wanted to ensure that the language would live for their children and future generations, had they not stood up and advocated for our language, these soon-to-be adults arguably wouldnʻt be who they are as fluent Hawaiian speakers, afforded with the opportunities that they have. 

This was about working with these ʻōpio, the youth, to develop their voice as advocates, because who better to advocate for our language and the necessity to see it live than those who are “products” of those efforts.

Q: And how will Mokuola Honua wrap up this 2019 IYIL?

A: We are excited to be the throws of shoring up the details for upcoming symposium in November of 2019! The first one was held in 2016 where 120+ individuals, representing over 25 indigenous peoples from around the globe, attended the 3-day symposium. There were presentations and compelling discourse around three thematic areas of education, media and policy as it relates to indigenous language revitalization and normalization. So we are excited to be bringing people together again for our second symposium that will be held in Hilo, Hawaiʻi.

Attendees will again have an opportunity to engage in site visits and conversations with individuals that have been implementing and working in Hawaiʻi’s language movement. But we also look forward to stimulating, inspiring and productive conversation around similar thematic areas. We will be adding a business and industry thematic area as well as a youth track this year to hear from a younger generation about their hopes and vision for what the future looks like as it relates to having their indigenous languages live and thrive. So please save the dates! We look forward to another great event and reconnecting, alo a he alo!