Mokuola Honua

Language Policy and Advocacy

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Language Policy and Advocacy

He ʻŌlelo Ola 2023 | Pūnana Leo Language Nests: Overcoming Unjust External Control Over Childcare and Preschooling

The reestablishment of education through Hawaiian began with the Pūnana Leo language nests. They began in spite of major barriers both at the early education level and beyond that level into the public schools. Those barriers were and continue to be the result of unjust colonial acts in the past and a mindset that has continued into the present.

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 2023, He ʻŌlelo Ola and ICLDC were held virtually and sessions recorded and made 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 2023. 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.