Hawaiian immersion saved the language

Hawaiian immersion saved the language

The Advertiser editorializes on the importance of Hawaiian language immersion program:

"Unique in the nation, Hawai'i has two official state languages: English and Hawaiian. The latter was pulled back from the brink of extinction two decades ago, thanks to Hawaiian-speaking kupuna, University of Hawai'i language students and the 'Aha Punana Leo Hawaiian-immersion program. Only a fraction of Hawai'i residents speak fluent Hawaiian, but the number of children being educated in Hawaiian is growing and creating a generation of bilingual citizens. This is a standard that is common and accepted in Europe but is relatively rare in the United States."

The editorial concludes: "This is more than an interesting academic exercise, as important as that alone might be. It is also a critical part of the effort to keep the entire Hawaiian culture vibrant and real. That is a direct benefit to everyone in these Islands."

And William H. Wilson, faculty of Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikolani Hawaiian Language College at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo and a founding member of 'Aha Punana Leo Inc., writes a commentary about the successes of Hawaiian language immersion programs:

"'He aupuni palapala ko'u.' 'Mine is a nation based in literacy,' proudly proclaimed Kamehameha III, founder of the Hawai'i public-school system, a system that then produced one of the very highest levels of literacy in the world.
And just as French public schools use French, Hawai'i's public schools used Hawaiian. This period of nationwide literacy was followed by a long period during which the Hawaiian language was banned by law in the school system. As a result, by 1983, only 43 children younger than 18 could speak Hawaiian fluently. The Hawaiian language was nearly extinct. Interestingly, during that same period, Hawai'i's literacy levels plummeted."

However, "Today, nearly 2,000 children have been educated in Hawaiian." And "Despite the difficulties, the results are clear: Public school Hawaiian-immersion education is a resounding success. Its successes include excellence in standardized testing, in acceptance rates in colleges and universities — including Stanford and Oxford — and in meeting the academic entrance requirements of pre-eminent private schools in Hawai'i."

Posted: Sun - November 2, 2003 at 03:34 PM

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Published On: Dec 27, 2005 10:15 PM

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