Students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo have started a medicinal garden on campus as an integral part of several sustainable gardens used as hands-on labs. The goal is to explore the medicinal plants of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region through the involvement of agriculture students, the university community and several community groups.

Led by Norman Arancon, professor of horticulture and the college鈥檚 director, the builds on years of hands-on learning in which students in his sustainable agriculture course have managed campus garden plots using sustainable growing practices.

“Our students [are] learning how to propagate and identify if some of our plants have some medical constituent compositions,” said Arancon. “It鈥檚 exciting. The students are not just learning from us. We also get some planting materials from the community and insights on what we can grow that they think will be to them.”

Lavender, thyme and learning

Arancon鈥檚 sustainable agriculture class (AG 230) developed three plots in the garden with medicinal plants such as thyme, ginger, tobacco, turmeric and lavender. Students in a weed science course (HORT 481) were challenged to identify plants commonly considered weeds and research their potential medicinal value.

As a culminating project, students transformed common weeds into medicinal products, including a tea made from invasive honohono grass traditionally used to support respiratory health.

Community and collaboration

The medicinal garden is a collaborative effort involving the agriculture college, and .

Pharmacy students examine the plants鈥� medicinal compounds, while the Hawaiian language college brings in community healers to share traditional knowledge of local and native plants.

“We hope healers from the community can also provide seminars on how to use the plants properly and prepare them for use at home,” Arancon said. “I鈥檇 love for more classes to be involved with the project in the future, such as introductory courses on horticulture or animal science, to learn about health benefits for farm animals or pets.”

—by Samantha Dane

For more go to .

At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, a once overgrown space has been transformed into something alive and welcoming. The Ululaumāhie Native Forest Restoration Project is more than a garden. It is a place where students learn by doing. They plant, care for, and connect with native plants. They share hula, oli (chant) and connections. What began in 2018 as a clearing project has grown into a vibrant learning space surrounding Haleʻōlelo, home of .

The work is led by Kumu Carmelito “Lito” Arkangel, a 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo lecturer in and , who brings students into the space not just to learn about plants, but to understand culture and place.

“Ulu is growth. The lau is the flora. And m膩hie is charming, it鈥檚 delightful. And it is. I try to meet that, you know, and it鈥檚 not easy,” said Arkangel about the meaning of the garden鈥檚 name. “There鈥檚 different perspectives of it, but for me, m膩hie is going to be that kolohe (rascal) boy hiding from the grandma, from the aunty, because she鈥檚 going to kiss his face and they鈥檙e gonna be like, cute, or they smile, you know.”

Arkangel鈥檚 vision is simple. Let the garden tell its own story. Throughout time, students and the community have shaped it into a place of learning, rest and connection.

For more go to .

Hawaiian language immersion programs across the state are growing fast, however schools need more qualified teachers to meet that demand. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Kananinohea “Kanani” Mākaʻimoku is working to help fill that gap.

As director of the within the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, Mākaʻimoku prepares educators to teach in Hawaiian medium and immersion schools. Throughout the past decade, the state鈥檚 Hawaiian immersion program has grown by 67 percent.

Kahuawaiola is a three-semester graduate certificate delivered in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian). During the pandemic, Mākaʻimoku helped shift the program online, reshaping and expanding access.

“Since 2020, the average number of students enrolling from the outer islands has increased by approximately 56 percent compared to the program鈥檚 pre-2020 history,” said Mākaʻimoku.

She has seen firsthand how hybrid learning has opened doors for students in rural communities, including areas such as Lānaʻi and H膩na. That access drives her to reach even more future educators as the need continues to grow. Since its inception, Kahuawaiola has prepared 164 certified teachers.

“By preparing teachers who are fluent in Hawaiian and grounded in culturally responsive pedagogy, we ensure that Hawaiian language medium and immersion schools can continue to serve families across the state,” Mākaʻimoku said, noting that education has long been one of the most effective ways to reverse language loss in Hawaiʻi.

Full-circle journey

Mākaʻimoku鈥檚 own path reflects that mission. Educated in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi from preschool through high school, she later spent 16 years teaching in immersion classrooms. She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, along with a through the Kahuawaiola program and a master鈥檚 degree in . She is now pursuing her doctorate in within 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 College of Hawaiian Language.

—By Susan Enright

Just in time for Mahina 鈥�Ō濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), PhD candidate Nicholas “Kealiʻi” Lum is turning social media into a classroom for cultural deepening.

Hiʻona Haku Mele, Lum鈥檚 new Instagram video series, invites learners to explore the poetic soul of Hawaiian music, going beyond conversational speech to uncover the unique lexical phrases that make mele (songs) distinct.

“There are specific pieces of language and ways of expression that make mele unique and separate it from common speech,” Lum explained, adding that he was inspired by Kahikina De Silva, an assistant professor at 糖心Vlog官方 惭补苍辞补鈥檚 , who recommended that Lum document these poetic devices in his dissertation.

Hiʻona Haku Mele launched on February 1 on and Instagram accounts, and new episodes will drop every Monday and Thursday throughout the month. Each minute-long video highlights a specific term, explains its function, and provides examples from recorded albums. “驶A糖心Vlog官方ea”—listen, heed my words—is featured as the first episode鈥檚 offering.

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: Mele Hawaiʻi Reimagined: 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Makuak膩ne scholar bridges past and present, October 2025

Lum notes that while spoken Hawaiian and “mele language” share a foundation, Hawaiian haku mele (composers) use musical jargon to convey ideas more descriptively or poetically.

“Our kupuna had ways of expressing emotion in a far more beautiful way than saying something so literal,” explained Lum.

Makuak膩ne scholar

The initiative is just one part of Lum鈥檚 broader academic and creative journey. As a doctoral student at , Lum was recently named the first recipient of the . This award honors the Makuak膩ne family鈥檚 lifelong advocacy for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and supports scholars dedicated to Indigenous language revitalization.

For more go to .

As Mahina ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) draws attention to the growing vitality of ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), a recently released mele Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian song) offers a compelling example of how the language is taking root far beyond the islands, this time through a rare partnership between a University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo PhD student and a young recording artist from Japan.

Award-winning Hawaiʻi musician and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo graduate student Nicholas Kealiʻi Lum composed Waikīkī, a mele recorded as a duet with Tom Noʻeau, a Japan-born musician and trained ʻ艒lapa hula (hula dancer). Collaborations like this remain uncommon in Hawaiian music, even as hula has flourished in Japan for decades, with an estimated two million dancers nationwide.

Modern mele Hawaiʻi

Lum developed Waikīkī through the , which supports his ongoing creative research following his 2023 debut album Pewa. Praised by listeners for its modern vibe and R&B-influenced sound, Pewa reimagines traditional mele Hawaiʻi in a contemporary context while centering cultural resilience and linguistic vitality, values that continue to shape Lum’s work.

Lum said the song the pair recorded in a Kalihi studio was shaped with intention toward visitors, particularly from Japan, Hawaiʻi’s largest international tourism market. “What would be so cool is when tourists come here that they don’t just go surfing and go to a lūʻau, but they actually have an educational piece, as well,” he said.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News: Mele Hawaiʻi Reimagined: 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Makuakāne scholar bridges past and present, October 28, 2025

Learning deeply

For Noʻeau, the collaboration marked a meaningful step in a journey shaped by years of hula training. He grew up dancing in Japan under the guidance of Kahikina Ah Sing and his brother Kalani, who grew up in Kona and opened Ke Ala O Ke Ao Cultural Arts Studio, their hālau in Japan, more than 20 years ago. Through the hālau, Noʻeau has been learning 驶艒lelo Hawaiʻi, with a strong focus on accuracy and understanding.

“This song taught me a lot. I’m still learning Hawaiian language, and pronunciation is really hard, but it made me want to learn more,” Noʻeau said.

For Lum, that commitment to language was central to the collaboration. “If you pronounce everything wrong, there’s no meaning there anymore, especially in mele, where the poetry carries the story,” he said.

Ah Sing said watching his student step into Hawaiian music has gone far beyond what he once imagined. “I never thought that the younger generation in Japan would root themselves so deeply in our language and culture,” he said.

Noʻeau has also recorded with award-winning Hawaiian musicians Robert Uluwehi Cazimero and Kuana Torres Kahele, further grounding his work in Hawaiian musical tradition.

University of Hawaiʻi researchers have published a new study that brings together ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge), ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and western marine science to shed new light on one of the ocean鈥檚 most elusive predators, the cookiecutter shark.

Rarely seen but often noticed, the cookiecutter shark is named for the distinctive wounds it leaves behind. Instead of tearing flesh, the small shark removes neat, circular plugs of meat that resemble the cut of a cookie cutter. These unmistakable bite marks are commonly found on prized fish such as ʻahi (bigeye tuna) and aʻu k奴 (swordfish), providing scientists with rare clues about the shark鈥檚 behavior in the deep, open ocean.

“What makes this species so fascinating is that we almost never see the shark itself,” said Justin Suca, an assistant professor in at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补. “We鈥檙e learning about it by studying when and where those bite marks appear.”

The interdisciplinary study was led by Suca, J. Hauʻoli Lorenzo-Elarco, an assistant professor of at Honolulu Community College and PhD candidate at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo , and Donald R. Kobayashi and economist Hing Ling Chan from NOAA鈥檚 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC).

Kobayashi, a biologist at PIFSC and 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 alumnus, has been a cookiecutter shark enthusiast for decades.

“I’ve been intrigued by these small sharks for over 40 years, when I first learned about them while a graduate student in oceanography at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and we would encounter them in net tows,” Kobayashi said. “These enigmatic creatures have resisted formal study due to their habitat, behavior, and apparent rarity, so it is quite gratifying to personally contribute some solid scientific knowledge towards understanding them and their ways!”

Night patterns

Published in, the study analyzed a much larger dataset than previous research, examining bite patterns recorded across Hawaiʻi鈥檚 longline fisheries over many years. The results reveal clear and persistent trends: cookiecutter shark bites occur most often at night and are closely tied to lunar cycles, with higher activity during darker, low-illumination periods.

Searching the past

Alongside the scientific analysis, the researchers reviewed Hawaiian-language sources, including historic n奴pepa (Hawaiian-language newspapers), and considered knowledge shared across Polynesian cultures to better understand how the shark may have been recognized in Hawaiʻi. While no direct references were found, the team believes Hawaiian ancestors were likely familiar with the shark鈥檚 distinctive bite marks.

“Our k奴puna (elders) may never have encountered the shark itself,” said Lorenzo-Elarco. “But they almost certainly encountered the evidence it left behind, the distinctive bite marks on fish they brought in from the open ocean.”

ʻ艑濒别濒辞 in science

From that understanding, the team developed a new Hawaiian name for the cookiecutter shark, nahunaiki, meaning “little bites,” and created an ʻ艒濒别濒辞 noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) describing its bite patterns and connection to nighttime conditions. The study also includes an abstract written entirely in ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi, highlighting how Indigenous knowledge and modern science can work together to reveal patterns that might otherwise remain unseen. Developed by utilizing elements of traditional Hawaiian proverbs, the ʻ艒濒别濒辞 noʻeau says, Muku ka malama, nanahu ka nahunaikio o ka p艒, When the new moon arises, the cookie cutter shark bites.This ʻ艒濒别濒辞 noʻeau is aimed at helping current and future generations of ocean stewards connect the lunar cycle to the bites of this shark.

These findings build on earlier 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 research that linked moonless nights to rare cookiecutter shark bites on humans, particularly swimmers in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 ocean channels, suggesting darkness plays a key role across very different types of encounters.

At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, the spirit of mele Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian music) and language revitalization are finding new life through the work of Nicholas Kealiʻi Lum, a PhD candidate at .

Lum has been named the first doctoral recipient of the . Established by the daughters of Daniel and Lydia Makuak膩ne, the fellowship honors the Makuak膩nes鈥� lifelong advocacy of ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi and Native Hawaiian cultural education.

Lum is weaving tradition and innovation into his in-depth studies of mele (songs) of old and new. His dissertation, “Pewa: I Ola ke Mele Hawaiʻi i kona Mele ʻia” (“Pewa: The Life of Hawaiian Music in Its Song”), braids traditional Hawaiian mele to modern soundscapes, creating bridges between younger audiences and ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) through experimental musical expression.

“In my dissertation, I define mele as being ‘logogenic,’ which means that words in a genre of music are more important than the musical treatment,” Lum explained. “And I believe that represents mele Hawaiʻi; it鈥檚 always the language within the text that is more important.”

With the fellowship, Lum will also have the opportunity to build on his 2023 debut album “Pewa,” using experimental approaches to mele Hawaiʻi that promote both cultural resilience and linguistic vitality.

Uplifting future generations

“Our parents did not have formal educational opportunities beyond the ninth grade in Puna,” said Teresa Makuak膩ne-Drechsel, a kanaka ʻ艒iwi (Native Hawaiian) linguist and 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 alumna. “Therefore, seeing this fellowship support Kealiʻi鈥檚 doctoral journey is a powerful reminder that their legacy continues to uplift future generations of ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi leaders.”

糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 College of Hawaiian Language is uniquely positioned as the only institution worldwide offering a PhD in Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization. In 2023, it was also designated as the first National Native American Language Resource Center, further expanding its role in advancing language revitalization across the U.S.

“The Makuak膩ne family has been longstanding supporters of our college, ever since their mother (Lydia) played a big role in the movement that started the Hawaiian language revitalization,” said Kaʻiu Kimura, director of Ka Haka ʻUla O 碍别ʻ别濒颈办艒濒补苍颈. “It鈥檚 such an honor that the family continues to work with us to forward our purpose.”

Keeping ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi alive

The Makuak膩ne Fellowship ensures that students, such as Lum, have the resources to complete their research, while also carrying forward the cultural knowledge and values that make the College of Hawaiian Language a global leader in Indigenous language revitalization.

“Keeping Hawaiian language alive for future generations has always been important to our family,” said Makuak膩ne-Drechsel. “This endowment is our way of honoring our parents鈥� values while giving others the opportunity to carry on this important work.”

For more information about the Daniel and Lydia Makuak膩ne Endowed Scholarship and Fellowship or to support Hawaiian language initiatives at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, contact the .

This article by Native Hawaiian Engagement Director at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Pelehonuamea Harman was first published in .

This summer, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo served as a cultural and intellectual bridge between the New Directions in the Humanities international conference and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

These two global events—centered on Indigenous knowledge, language revitalization, and the role of youth in shaping culture—highlighted 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 leadership at the intersection of scholarship, ʻike kupuna, and community.

Held at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo and chaired by Dr. Patsy Y. Iwasaki, the New Directions in the Humanities conference marked the first time this prestigious gathering was hosted in Hawaiʻi. Previous locations included Paris and Rome, with Lisbon, Portugal, set to host next.

The conference opened with a k墨paepae welcome ceremony, grounding guests in the spirit of the land and people of Hawaiʻi.

Under the theme “Oceanic Journeys,” scholars, students, and cultural practitioners explored the humanities through a Pacific lens. Presentations spanned topics from language reclamation and Indigenous storytelling to cultural continuity and place-based education. A field trip to the luapele—the volcanic landscape sacred to Pele—provided an experiential learning opportunity rooted in Hawaiian ways of knowing and deepened participants鈥� understanding of the connection between land, language, and identity.

糖心Vlog官方 Hilo faculty, staff, and students played central roles sharing research, performing mele and oli, and engaging in cross-cultural dialogue. The conference affirmed 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 strength as an Indigenous-serving institution committed to community-centered and place-based education.

Weeks later, 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 voice resonated from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where university representatives participated in the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Under the theme “Youth and the Future of Culture,” the Hawaiʻi delegation led the Language Reclamation Program. Representatives from 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo leadership, , , Ke Kula ʻo 狈腻飞补丑墨辞办补濒补苍颈ʻ艒辫耻ʻ耻, and the National Native American Language Resource Center shared mele, oli, hula, and strategies for revitalizing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

A key facilitator for the folklife festival was 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo alumnus H膩lena Kapuni-Reynolds who serves as a curator at the Smithsonian鈥檚 National Museum of the American Indian. His leadership helped ensure that Indigenous voices from Hawaiʻi were highlighted with respect and authenticity on this national stage.

糖心Vlog官方ors to the Hawaiʻi tent participated in intergenerational dialogue and hands-on activities, learning how language restoration is deeply tied to land, education, and cultural identity. In a powerful gesture of continuity, several “Oceanic Journeys” attendees visited the Hawaiʻi tent to thank the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo delegation for extending the spirit and ʻike of the conference to the nation鈥檚 capital.

Whether we are hosting a conference as 办补尘补ʻ腻颈苍补 at our own university or attending as malihini at a national gathering, our relationship to Hawaiʻi remains central to who we are and how we engage. In every setting, we carry this ʻike (knowledge), aloha, and the values rooted in this ʻāina with us.

These gatherings affirmed a shared vision: that the humanities are most powerful when grounded in place, lived experience, and Indigenous knowledge systems. 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 presence at both events underscored its commitment to cultivating future cultural leaders—those who carry tradition forward while envisioning and shaping a resilient future.

A new effort at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is using artificial intelligence to help secure the future of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). The Lauleo project is gathering Hawaiian speech data to create AI tools that can convert voice to text.

The project is a collaboration between 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo College of Hawaiian Language, , and , a Māori language group from New Zealand. Their goal is to speed up the painstaking process of transcribing Hawaiian audio recordings.

Right now, manually transcribing an hour of speech takes about 30 hours of work. AI could change that.

“Through this effort of Lauleo, the technology of speech to text will help to expedite the importance of audio information to promote the life of Hawaiian,” said Kumu Larry Kimura, a Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies professor at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo and a foremost authority on the audio archives of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

Participation needed

The team emphasizes that community participation is crucial. Their motto, 鈥�“Bringing our voices together for the future of our language,” reflects the need for many voices—I lau nā leo—to make this project a success.

Anyone who speaks ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi can help. The Lauleo app, available on Apple and Google Play, allows users to record themselves reading specific sentences in Hawaiian. This data will help train AI to recognize and convert Hawaiian speech into text.

Hawaiian language Siri

Once developed, the technology could power text messaging in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi Siri, or even an app to help learners with pronunciation.

Speakers of all levels, from beginners to native speakers, are encouraged to participate. Organizers say all voices are valuable, emphasizing that computers need to recognize a diverse range of speech to effectively serve the broader community of speakers and learners.

Competition prize giveaways

For those looking for a challenge, teams can compete for cash prizes by submitting recordings through March 2.

—By Susan Enright

For more go to .

In honor of Mahina ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), University of Hawaiʻi at 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Native Hawaiian engagement director, Pelehonuamea Harman, highlights key Hawaiian language milestones in her latest ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Resource of the Month column, exploring Native Hawaiian protocols, traditions and Indigenous learning practices.

Aloha Mahina ʻ艑濒别濒辞 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铿僣ially 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 糖心Vlog官方 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 铿乺st 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铿乧ant decline in the use of Hawaiian.Hawaiʻi

1919: The Hawaiian Dictionary Published

• In 1919, Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel Elbert published in the 铿乺st 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 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补

• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 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 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补

• The was established at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Hawaiian.

1997: Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo

• , the College of Hawaiian Language, was established at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, making it the 铿乺st college in the world to offer higher education in an Indigenous language.

2006: Hawaiian Language Dissertation

• The was completed at the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, highlighting the language鈥檚 academic capability.

2007: Doctoral Program in Hawaiian Language at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo

• 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo began offering a , advancing the language鈥檚 use in academia and scholarly research.

Harman joined 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Office of the Chancellor in June 2024 as part of the growing Hawaiʻi Papa o Ke Ao team established throughout the 10-campus 糖心Vlog官方 System to develop, implement and assess strategic actions to enhance the higher education needs of Native Hawaiians.

For more ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi milestones, go to .

at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to publish a Hawaiian adaptation of the internationally acclaimed children鈥檚 book What Makes Us Human? The book, titled I Kanaka Mai I Ke Aha?, was released on February 21 in recognition of , aligning with the ongoing co-led by UNESCO.

“The publication of I Kanaka Mai I Ke Aha? in Hawaiian is another important step in reaffirming our language on the global stage,” said Kaʻiu Kimura, director of 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 College of Hawaiian Language. “It not only contributes to our children鈥檚 literacy and language development but also reinforces the significance of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) as a living language, capable of engaging with the world.”

Originally written in Portuguese by Brazilian-American author and linguist Victor D. O. Santos, the book is structured as a riddle, guiding children through the significance of language as a defining element of humanity. Hawaiian is the first Native American language and the first Pacific Island language in which the book has been published.

A playful language

The Hawaiian adaptation was crafted by Kaʻiuokalani Damas, an assistant professor of Hawaiian and Hawaiian studies at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, in collaboration with his wife Kauʻilani, a teacher at Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Hawaiian medium school. The couple is raising their daughters as first-language Hawaiian speakers.

“Hawaiian is a playful language, rich with wit and double meanings,” Damas explained. “This book highlights the critical role of language in human identity while introducing young Hawaiian speakers to the joy of riddles and wordplay.”

Language preservation

The Hawaiian edition joins , such as Mapuzungun of the Mapuche in Chile and Hñähñü of the Otomí in Mexico. UNESCO鈥檚 Indigenous Languages Decade highlights the urgency of language preservation.

糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Hawaiian Language College leads national revitalization efforts through the National Native American Language Resource Center. Hawaiʻi鈥檚 4,000+ students in Hawaiian medium schools mark a dramatic resurgence from fewer than 50 child speakers just 40 years ago, making it the largest initiative of its kind for a Native American language.

Early literacy is critical in growing the next generation of Hawaiian speakers. Hawaiian medium preschoolers learn to read two years earlier than their English-medium peers through the Hakalama method, a syllable-based system designed for Hawaiian鈥檚 unique structure. This approach fosters strong literacy skills and long-term fluency.

The final production of I Kanaka Mai I Ke Aha? was completed through at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo. Copies are available for pre-order at .

ʻO ka “mākia,” he ʻelua ona manaʻo nui: ʻo kekahi, he kumu hana a poʻo manaʻo nui paha e kia aku ai kānaka; a ʻo kekahi aku, he kākia ʻana i kekahi mea a paʻa pono i ke kui a mea like paha. E kū hōʻailona ana ka manaʻo o ua hua nei i ke ola o kākou i nei wā ʻo ka hulihia penei.

Ma ka ʻoihana kūkulu hale, he hana maʻa mau ka mākia ʻana i nā papa lāʻau o ka hale i ke kui e hiolo ʻole ai ʻo ka hale Mauliola. Ua like nō paha ia waiwai me ka mākia pono ʻana iho i ko kākou hale ponoʻī 颈丑辞鈥�ʻ辞 ke Kanaka ʻana o ka Lāhui 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥�ʻ辞 ka hoʻokahua ʻana hoʻi iā kākou iho ma ka ʻike ʻiʻo a naʻauao. A e like hoʻi me ka nui o ia hoʻokahua ʻana, ʻo ia ia malumalu hoʻi o kākou e ola ai he Hawaiʻi ma nā ʻāʻumeʻume o nei “ao holo mua” nō hoʻi! E kū mau ko kākou Kanaka ʻana i ka maikaʻi o ka mākia ʻana ma nā paia o ka ʻike.

Ma ke kū ʻana o kēlā me kēia o ko kākou hale pākahi e laua pono ai nā hana hoʻomāhuahua o kaiahome. E hoʻoikaika mau kākou ma ka pākahi a “Kākia Kui Nao a ke Akamai.” Ma ka mākia ʻana ma ka ʻike me ka pono e lanakila ʻokoʻa ai ka noho ana ʻole ʻana o ka Lāhui Kani Moʻopuna mau!

No Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, ke Koleke ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ma ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo

Ma luna o ke kahua nui ākea he ʻike kuʻuna na nā kūpuna mai, he ʻimi nā kumu, nā haumāna a me nā limahana o Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani i ka hoʻōla hou ʻia o ka ʻōlelo a moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi ma Hawaiʻi nei. He mau papa hana ko ke Koleke ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, kālai ʻōlelo, hoʻonaʻauao, me ka haʻawina ʻŌiwi. ʻO Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani kekahi o nā alakaʻi hoʻōla ʻōlelo ʻŌiwi a puni ka honua a no laila, he pōʻaiapili waiwai ke Koleke e luʻu piha ai nā haumāna i ka ʻike kuʻuna a kuanaʻike i māhuahua aʻe ka ʻike a mākau e pono ai ko lākou mau kaiāulu ponoʻī a ma ʻō loa aku.

2024 Hawaiian Word of the Year: Mākia

As Hawaiʻi navigates a time of profound change and challenge, a single word has emerged to inspire resilience and purpose: mākia. Selected as the 2024 Huaʻōlelo (Word) of the Year by the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (KHʻUOK), mākia conveys the meaning of “aim, motto, or purpose.” In these transformative times, it serves as a powerful reminder to move forward with intention and clarity.

“Mākia also refers to stakes, bolts, or nails, as well as the act of driving them firmly into place,” said Kaʻiu Kimura, director of the Hawaiian language college. “So figuratively speaking, it represents the process of anchoring one鈥檚 purpose or intent, grounding aspirations in a way that provides stability and direction.”

This deeper meaning is particularly relevant as communities seek to rebuild and strengthen amid uncertainty. Kimura drew a parallel between mākia and the stakes that secure a hale (house), emphasizing the determination needed to establish a strong foundation for growth.

“The hope behind the selected huaʻōlelo is to also underscore the importance of being steadfast and intentional, ensuring that efforts are rooted in well-founded knowledge and purposeful action, rather than arbitrary or unfocused ideas,” explained Hiapo K. Perreira, a professor at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani.

“Beyond its linguistic significance, mākia offers a guiding principle. It invites individuals to channel their energy thoughtfully, embracing their kuleana (responsibility) to themselves and their communities. Embracing our shared values and a commitment to thoughtful, forward-thinking decisions, this huaʻōlelo invites us to steady ourselves and move forward with purpose,” Kimura said.

More about Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, Hawaiian Language College

Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the Hawaiian language and culture. Based at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, the college offers programs in Hawaiian language, linguistics, education, and Indigenous studies. As a global leader in Indigenous language revitalization, KHʻUOK provides a vibrant space for students to immerse themselves in Hawaiian values, traditions, and practices, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.

Kealiʻi Rasmussen, an (Hawaiian language) alumnus from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, has turned his passion for ʻōlelo into a mission for community impact. Raised in a Hawaiian language church, he recalls his t奴t奴 (grandmother) speaking some Hawaiian words and phrases and grew to love the language.

“It started off as an avenue to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi the way our kūpuna (elders) did鈥攖hrough oral teaching and communication,” Rasmussen said. “This led to me caring for keiki (children) at the same time and growing a deep connection.”

What started as a three-year role in 2014 at a Pūnana Leo Hawaiian language immersion preschool evolved into a decade-long dedication to language education. Today, he is the head teacher of Pūnana Leo o Waiʻanae (PLOW), where he nurtures young Hawaiian speakers each day.

Kuleana to nurture keiki

In spring 2024, Rasmussen earned a BA in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and a certificate in Hawaiian language medium early education from 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 . He believes his studies have equipped him to meet the kuleana (responsibility) to young learners.

“Knowing that you are adding to their success and helping their family grow in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi鈥nd when I run into them 10 years down the line, [I hope] that they remember me and the life lessons that I taught them, are successful and are carrying the ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in their careers.”

ʻŌlelo opportunities, fundraiser

PLOW is hosting Kāpahi Ka Moana I Kai, a free public fundraiser on Saturday, November 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wai Kai in ʻEwa. The event, designed to engage the broader community, will include live Hawaiian music, makahiki (harvest) games, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi lessons, and more than 20 local vendors. Funds raised will help Pūnana Leo o Waiʻanae enhance its language immersion programs, including classes for mākua (parents) to foster a Hawaiian-speaking home environment.

Full circle path

Reflecting on his journey, Rasmussen feels grateful for his career, which helped him fulfill his dream of embracing the language of his ancestors.

“When I first started Pūnana Leo o Waiʻanae in 2014, I couldn’t ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi but being immersed and learning alongside of the keiki I was able to learn and speak.”

For more go to .

Hawaiʻi Island educator Pelehonuamea Harman has been appointed as the first-ever director of Native Hawaiian Engagement at the . The announcement, confirmed by the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents and 糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner this June, marks a significant stride toward the university鈥檚 goal of becoming a leader in Indigenous education. Harman is scheduled to start in her new role on July 1.

Harman will join the growing Hawaiʻi Papa o Ke Ao team established throughout the 10-campus 糖心Vlog官方 System to develop, implement and assess strategic actions to enhance the higher education needs of Native Hawaiians. At 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, Harman will help to implement priorities such as advancing language and culture parity in areas ranging from programming and curriculum to research and hiring practices.

“Her acceptance of this role and her willingness to share her rich lineage of Hawaiian language and cultural knowledge as a moʻopuna kuakahi (great-granddaughter) of Mary Kawena Pukui, one of the University of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 most esteemed scholars of Hawaiian knowledge, is a testament to her commitment to our shared journey of reclaiming this ʻike (knowledge) in our endeavors moving forward as a university,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin.

Wealth of knowledge, expertise

Harman brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position, with more than twenty years of experience in Hawaiian immersion education, which includes teaching at 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu K–12 laboratory school and the program within .

Harman is an alumna of 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo with a bachelor of arts in Hawaiian studies, a teaching certificate from Kahuawaiola, and a master of arts in Hawaiian language and literature.

ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) innovators

Together with her husband, Kekoa, an associate professor of Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, Pelehonuamea serves as a kumu hula (hula teacher) of Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo (Hālau of the Living Voice of Descendants).

Related: From hula to PhD: 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo kumu shares ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi journey, March 28, 2024

Harman is a haumāna ʻuniki (student of intense studies) of Kumu Hula Kimo Alama Keaulana. The Harmans鈥� hālau hula (hula school) based on Hawaiʻi Mokupuni (Hawaiʻi Island), is focused on raising new generations grounded in the practices of hula from a strong foundation of Hawaiian language fluency. Living what they teach, they raise all four of their children through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).

In a notable recognition of their expertise, the Harmans were invited to Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2022 to collaborate on curriculum development for their haumāna (students).

For more go to .

—By Susan Enright

Born and raised on Maui, Kekoa Harman, an associate professor of Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language at , recalls his ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) journey beginning in the seventh grade at his alma mater, Kamehameha Schools Kap膩lama. Growing up, Harman learned many Hawaiian chants and songs, which propelled him to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, to gain a better understanding.

“I was especially interested in hula,” Harman said. “[That] inspired me to learn the language further so that I could understand what I was chanting, what I was singing, and what I was dancing about.”

After high school, he continued Hawaiian language at then Maui Community College and earned an associate in arts degree. Hungry for more, Harman came to 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, which continues to be recognized for its crucial role in the revitalization and advancement of Hawaiian language. He would go on to secure a BA in Hawaiian studies and MA in Indigenous language and culture education and doctorate in .

Much more than a degree

The Maui native now calls Keaʻau home and is thankful to be a kumu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 College of Hawaiian Language. He recognizes teaching Hawaiʻi鈥檚 mother tongue extends much farther than the Hilo campus.

“This is a large community when we talk about the Hawaiian language movement, when we look at the preschool all the way up to the college level right here in East Hawaiʻi. We are a part of something that鈥檚 much more than just a degree or a Hawaiian language course. We are part of a movement, part of a community,” Harman said.

Harman is 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 representative for Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao, a program tasked to create activities in support of 糖心Vlog官方 being a leader in Indigenous education across all 10 campuses across the 糖心Vlog官方 system. He驶s also a member of the —a campus-based group of faculty and staff who are Native Hawaiian or associated with Native Hawaiian programs. In this role, he hopes to promote Native Hawaiian culture and language on campus.

—By N膩pua Iolana Bicoy

at Hilo continues to be recognized for its crucial role in the revitalization and advancement of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), one of the historic hallmarks of the campus. Indigenous cultures now turn to 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo to help them revive their languages. Just last fall, the campus was awarded a five-year grant from the to establish a National Native American Language Resource Center.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo to lead $6.6M National Native Language Resource Center, October 18, 2023

Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa is one of the key figures behind 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 efforts to teach ʻōlelo. Last August, she was appointed interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo however for more than three decades, she has been an associate professor in Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian and Indigenous teacher education, teaching thousands of students (haum膩na) Hawaiʻi鈥檚 mother tongue. Kawaiʻaeʻa also previously served as director of 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 .

“Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani currently draws students seeking to learn our models and processes for Hawaiian, Indigenous, and endangered language revitalization from around the world,” Kawaiʻaeʻa said.

ʻŌlelo expansion

Kawaiʻaeʻa joined 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo in 1992 as an educational specialist, and has served as founding director of the campus鈥� , director of and founding partner of .

The Kahuawaiola Hawaiian and Indigenous Teacher Training Program is a three-semester graduate certificate program, delivered primarily through the medium of Hawaiian, specifically designed to prepare Mauli Ola Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian identity nurturing) teachers of the highest quality to teach in Hawaiian language medium schools, Hawaiian language and culture programs in English medium schools, and schools serving students with a strong Hawaiian cultural background.

糖心Vlog官方 Hilo is also expanding the use of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in various programs and curriculum, incorporating it into courses. More faculty and staff are also learning and utilizing the Hawaiian language.

“As we continue to implement more tangible ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi revitalization efforts and increase spaces where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi lives…we will also be able to articulate the dynamics of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi within our campus model of how a university campus serves as an Indigenous-serving model,” Kawaiʻaeʻa said.

For more go to .

Hundreds of Native Hawaiian students have been able to attend a University of Hawaiʻi campus thanks to the financial investments of Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs). NHOs are nonprofits that also have majority ownership in one or more for-profit small businesses that compete for federal contracts, and whose profits are returned to Native Hawaiian communities.

More than two dozen NHOs have given to 糖心Vlog官方, with and taking the lead, investing a combined $5 million over the past five years. These gifts are helping to grow a pipeline of Native Hawaiian leaders to address social, economic and cultural issues.

Alakaʻina Foundation

Tevita Hala Latu of Hilo is in his second year of studying for a fire science degree at Hawaiʻi Community College with the aid of an Alakaʻina Foundation 糖心Vlog官方 Community College Scholarship. Hala Latu plans to become a firefighter after he graduates and said the scholarship has allowed him to focus on being a full-time student and to pay for books, supplies and materials.

“I couldn’t do it without you,” Hala Latu wrote in a letter of appreciation to Alakaʻina Foundation. “I will prove to you that your investment was well spent. I am currently a 3.8 GPA student and I am motivated to do better. Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo for your support!”

Alakaʻina 贵辞耻苍诲补迟颈辞苍鈥檚 糖心Vlog官方 Community College Scholarship supports students pursuing degrees or certificates in vocational and technical fields. The foundation also supports, the Digital Bus Program and scholarships at Kauaʻi Community College; 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language; the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge; 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu; Leeward Community College; and Windward Community College.

The Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation

Angilynne Pekelo-Cedillo of Waiʻanae was able to complete her master鈥檚 degree in social work at the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health last year with support from The Hawaiʻi Pacific 贵辞耻苍诲补迟颈辞苍鈥檚 Haumana Scholarship.

“As a non-traditional [student and] Native Hawaiian mother of seven children, returning to school was difficult financially,” she said. “I owe part of my success to people that make up organizations and foundations that invest in people like me.”

The Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation has given multiple gifts to support 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, School of Ocean & Earth Science and Technology, Linguistics Department, Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at the John A. Burns School of Medicine and Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, and 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu.

For more, go to the .

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:

• Alakaʻina Foundation invests $540K in 糖心Vlog官方 programs, more than $2.3M total, September 6, 2023
• Students get a deep dive into Native Hawaiian cultural practices, November 14, 2023

The will lead a three-university consortium that was awarded a $6.6 million, five-year grant from the (USDE) to establish a National Native American Language Resource Center (N-NALRC). The award is the first of its kind to lead, advocate for and implement training and resource development for Indigenous language education pathways in the U.S.

“This is not only an acknowledgment of the value of our Native languages but is also a testament to the hard work our community has put into renormalizing our ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) over the past 40 years, while also working to uplift other ʻōlelo ʻōiwi (Indigenous languages) nationally and internationally,” said Kaʻiu Kimura, director of the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa Institute and 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 . “Our national team is honored to receive this grant, and we are grateful for the support of Senator Brian Schatz, who authored and shepherded the passage of the NALRC Act.”

“Culturally based instruction is critical to promoting and revitalizing Native languages,” said Schatz, who is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “This funding will directly support educational institutions like the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in developing resources and fostering collaboration to promote the use of Native American languages across the country.”

糖心Vlog官方 Hilo is considered a worldwide leader in advancing Hawaiian and Indigenous language and culture revitalization.

“I am thrilled to see the years of effort by our Hawaiian language faculty getting national recognition in this way,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “The future work with our Indigenous partners through this center will enable us to further revitalize languages across the U.S.”

糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner agreed, “This new grant recognizes the strength we have built within 糖心Vlog官方 and provides an opportunity to share knowledge and solutions from Hawaiʻi with native communities seeking to save their languages throughout the country.”

Along with 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo, the consortium includes the and in Wisconsin, programs that have long-standing ties with the ʻImiloa Institute and have been working relentlessly to reclaim their languages.

“With the opportunities presented in our shared visions and unity, we grow stronger together and keep one another from feeling alone in our efforts to achieve language stability,” said University of Alaska Southeast Professor Lance X鈥檜nei Twitchell, who earned his PhD at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani.

Migizi Michael Sullivan, Native American studies director at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, went on to say, “The center will be a place where Indigenous communities and groups can draw inspiration, information on best practices, and share strategies to renormalize the use of our languages, to benefit present and future generations of Indigenous people.”

About Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa Institute

The institute was established in 2023 as a collaborative effort between 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Hawaiian Language Consortium partners including ʻImiloa Center, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, , , , and the . Building on 40 years of experience in revitalizing and renormalizing the Hawaiian language and supporting Indigenous languages around the world, the institute will further support the P–12, undergraduate and graduate programs, and community engagement throughout Hawaiʻi and other Indigenous communities and will serve as an incubator and accelerator to support native language normalization.

About the University of Alaska Southeast

Part of the University of Alaska system, the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) has campuses in Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. The Alaska Native Languages and Studies program at UAS examines three primary components of modern and historical Alaska Native life: language, art and society. Taught by Alaska Native professors, Indigenous language study courses focus on revitalization through learning, documentation and community activities. Students within the Alaska Native Languages programs develop a strong foundation in language learning, use and advocacy. UAS has unique experience in teaching languages with especially intricate grammars and phonologies such as Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.

About Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University is located in the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservation in Wisconsin and has extensive experience in working within a tribal college system and Bureau of Indian Education initiatives. The Lac Courte Oreilles reservation is also the site of the most developed Native American language immersion program outside of Hawaiʻi, the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute.

A collaborative project to develop the world鈥檚 most comprehensive Indigenous language campus at the has received two architectural design awards. The designs for the project—a proposed preschool-through-PhD educational system taught entirely in ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language)—was recognized internationally with a 2023 Innovation by Design Award, and locally with an Award of Excellence in ‘s 65th Annual Design Awards.

The designs are a collaboration between teams from the of the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 School of Architecture, the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs and 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 longstanding Hawaiian language consortium, known as the Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa Institute, comprised of Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, ʻImiloa, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu and the ʻAha P奴nana Leo. This multi-phase project highlights and aligns ceremonial protocol spaces for three new buildings of the proposed campus that will feature views of Hilo Bay and Maunakea.

“What an exciting recognition for a critically important project that will position 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo at the forefront of global Indigenous language revitalization and normalization,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “There are so many units within the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo ʻohana working to make this vision a reality and we appreciated the collaboration with 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 School of Architecture.”

Fast Company‘s Innovation by Design Awards is an international competition in its 12th year that recognizes projects that change the way people interact with the world around them. The ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi Campus design was honored in the Social Justice category, for solving the most crucial problems of today and anticipating the pressing issues of tomorrow.

The Award of Excellence is AIA Honolulu’s highest honor and recognizes projects that exemplify excellence of architectural design on all levels of analysis, and exemplify the highest standards to which AIA members aspire. The AIA Honolulu’s Annual Design Awards has been held annually since 1958. Honorees can be found in the September issue of .

The ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi Campus project

The proposed project is envisioned to be a complete educational system that will cultivate a legacy of language and learning. The ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi Campus represents 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 commitment to renormalizing ʻ艒濒别濒辞 not just in Hilo, but throughout all of Hawaiʻi, according to Kaʻiu Kimura, 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language director and ʻImiloa Astronomy Center director, who was also a member of the winning design team.

“Guided by a constellation of dedicated minds, including the visionaries at the Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa Institute, we weave our heritage into the fabric of education,” said Kimura. “With each brick and beam, we echo the voices of generations past and empower the voices of generations yet to come. This recognition affirms our journey toward a future where our native languages thrive, our cultures soar and our people flourish.”

ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi Campus master plan

The master plan for the campus is organized around a series of physical alignments, responding to the nine cultural pathways of N膩 Honua Mauli Ola for culturally healthy and responsive learning environments, developed by members of Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa. The project proposes the design of three buildings:

• P奴nana Leo o M艒kaulele, a preschool, centered around all-weather play spaces and ʻohana-oriented classrooms;
• Hale Kuamoʻo, a compact production facility supporting a teaching practice and the research-development-production-distribution cycle of technologies and resources for Hawaiian language education; and the
• Graduate Center and Mokuola Honua Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence, located in a series of structures that minimally touch the site.

The Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa Institute is a longstanding statewide consortium of schools and nonprofit organizations that supports a P-25 Hawaiian Indigenous Language Cycle that spans from preschool to PhD. The success of this consortium of community leaders and educators has seen Hawaiʻi become an aspirational model for similar Indigenous language programs across the nation and around the world.

The ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi Campus is a joint venture between multiple units at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo of the 糖心Vlog官方 Community Design Center out of the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 School of Architecture, 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Office of the Chancellor, Kuʻikahi Consortium Partners (Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, ʻAha P奴nana Leo, Hale Kuamoʻo, Mokuola Honua, ʻImiloa) and the 糖心Vlog官方 System Office of the Vice President of Administration.

Winning design team

The design team was led by Principal Investigators Brian Strawn and Karla Sierralta, associate professor at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 School of Architecture, in collaboration with Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa, associate professor and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Kimura, together with a team of student project assistants and research associates employed through the 糖心Vlog官方 Community Design Center platform.