Originally published by Hale Kuamoʻo Hawaiian Language Center at UH Hilo

As the niu leaves’ swaying in the wind is assured, so too is Hawai‘i’s resurgence of cultural vibrancy. Under the United Nations declaration, 2019 was declared as the International Year of Indigenous Languages to bring awareness to and about the world’s indigenous languages, and innovation on traditional knowledge systems. This focus was important to highlight the diligent and unwavering work of indigenous language movements all over the world.

It has been 40 or so years since ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i has rightfully been made an official language of Hawai‘i with English by its side. These 40 years have been integral in the resurgence of Hawai‘i’s mauli which is evident in the inception of many great programs: ‘Aha Pūnana Leo, Ka Papahana Kaiapuni, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at UH Mānoa, Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo, Awaiaulu, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Kamehameha Schools’ ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i initiatives, and ‘Ōiwi TV. This is a direct outcome of the diligent and unwavering work of Hawai‘i’s people for Hawai‘i’s legacy.

Included in this monograph are articles written by, for, and within the programs working tirelessly in language and culture revitalization throughout Hawai‘i, with a supplementary timeline of language revitalization depicting the pivotal moments to ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i’s revitalization from 1841 till the present day, encompassing 178 years of history. In closing, dive in and experience these anecdotal accounts depicting firsthand the progress, struggles, and the future of language and culture revitalization here in Hawai‘i.