This video presentation is an introduction to yet another groundbreaking language revitalization resource from Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, Kaniʻāina. At the turn of the 19th century, Hawaiian was the predominant language in Hawai‘i. By 1985, less than a hundred years later, the number of minor age Native speakers of Hawaiian was less than 50 children. The Hawaiian language education movement of the 1970s and 80s were guided by kūpuna mānaleo (native speaking elders) who gave generously with passion and aloha towards the revitalization of the Hawaiian language. Nearly all of those treasured elders have long since passed but their gifts expressed through the language are a rich and valuable resource of Hawaiian knowledge, language, culture, history, place, arts and science. Kaniʻāina, “Voices of the Land,” is an educational resource focusing on Native Hawaiian speech aimed at documentation and preservation of Hawaiian and seeks to encourage and enhance the learning and use of Hawaiian. As a growing digital corpus of Native Hawaiian speech, Kaniʻāina provides interactive access to Native Hawaiian speech and transcripts through a bilingual digital library interface. "Kaniʻāina, Voices of the Land" video was first presented at He ʻŌlelo Ola 2021.

About He ʻŌlelo Ola

He ʻŌlelo Ola, also known as the "Hilo Field Study" of the International Conference on Language Documentation and Conservation (ICLDC) has been held biannually since 2009 in association with ICLDC. ICLDC is traditionally held on the campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on Oʻahu Island, while He ʻŌlelo Ola is held in a consortium of programs coordinated through the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island.

In 2021 during the COVID 19 pandemic, He ʻŌlelo Ola and ICLDC were held virtually. He ʻŌlelo Ola 2021 was recorded and we here make that recording available for viewing through Mokuola Honua Center for indigenous Language Excellence. The contents of this recording represent the consortium of entities working together in Hawaiian language revitalization as of March 2021. The consortium is continually growing and adding features and future He ʻŌlelo Ola will include new information and initiatives.

Explore mokuolahonua.com for further information on the Hawaiian language revitalization consortium efforts in Hilo, and to contact He ʻŌlelo Ola organizers.