In honor of Mahina ʻ?lelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Native Hawaiian engagement director, Pelehonuamea Harman, highlights key Hawaiian language milestones in her latest ʻ?lelo Resource of the Month column, exploring Native Hawaiian protocols, traditions and Indigenous learning practices.
Aloha Mahina ʻ?lelo Hawaiʻi! (Happy Hawaiian Language Month!)
Pepeluali (February) in Hawaiʻi has become synonymous with the Hawaiian language. You may have attended a festival or a concert this month where you heard people speaking in Hawaiian. The State of Hawaiʻi is one of three states that have o?cially recognized languages besides English. (The other two being South Dakota and Alaska.)
Here is a timeline of significant milestones in Hawaiian language in Hawaiʻi, with key events related to the 东精影业 System.
1820: Introduction of Written Hawaiian
- Protestant missionaries introduced the Latin alphabet to Hawaiʻi, creating the foundation for written Hawaiian. This marks the beginning of Hawaiian language preservation in a written form. Citation: .
1834: First Hawaiian-Language Newspaper Published
- The ?rst Hawaiian-language newspaper, , was published. It helped promote literacy in Hawaiian.
1896: Language Ban in Schools
- The Republic of Hawaiʻi passed Act 57, an as a medium of instruction in public schools. This marked the beginning of a signi?cant decline in the use of Hawaiian.Hawaiʻi
1919: The Hawaiian Dictionary Published
- In 1919, Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel Elbert published in the ?rst comprehensive dictionary of the Hawaiian language. It was republished several times with a revised and enlarged edition published in 1991.
- Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel Elbert published Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian-English English-Hawaiian (), the first comprehensive dictionary of the Hawaiian language. It was crucial in preserving the language in its written form.
1921: Hawaiian Language Courses at 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补
- 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 began offering Hawaiian language courses, signaling the start of formal efforts to teach Hawaiian at the university level.
1985: Establishment of Hawaiian Studies Department at 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补
- The was established at 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Hawaiian.
1997: Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani at 东精影业 Hilo
- , the College of Hawaiian Language, was established at 东精影业 Hilo, making it the ?rst college in the world to offer higher education in an Indigenous language.
2006: Hawaiian Language Dissertation
- The was completed at the 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补, highlighting the language’s academic capability.
2007: Doctoral Program in Hawaiian Language at 东精影业 Hilo
- 东精影业 Hilo began offering a , advancing the language’s use in academia and scholarly research.
Harman joined 东精影业 Hilo’s Office of the Chancellor in June 2024 as part of the growing Hawaiʻi Papa o Ke Ao team established throughout the 10-campus 东精影业 System to develop, implement and assess strategic actions to enhance the higher education needs of Native Hawaiians.
For more ʻ?lelo Hawaiʻi milestones, go to .