[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

               RECOGNIZING MONTH OF THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE

 Mr. AKAKA. Today I wish to speak to the celebration of the 
Hawaiian language. February is designated as the ``Month of the 
Hawaiian Language'' by the State of Hawai`i. Speakers and students of 
the language use this time to foster and promote Hawaiian through 
festivals, spelling bees, and speech and debate competitions where the 
Hawaiian language is the primary medium.
  Since the first official designation in 1994, February has been a 
celebration of the Hawaiian language in Hawai`i. However, this modern 
renaissance happened only after the Hawaiian language came close to 
extinction, and the people of Hawai`i fought to preserve it.
  In 1896, following the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai`i, English 
was named as the primary language of instruction in Hawai`i's schools. 
As a result, students who spoke Hawaiian were subject to physical 
punishment or public humiliation. As Native Hawaiian families struggled 
to assimilate with the increasing Western presence in Hawai`i, parents 
gave children non-Hawaiian first names. Families who carried Hawaiian 
family names adopted Western surnames to avoid a Hawaiian identity. 
Parents stopped teaching their children Hawaiian, and maintained 
English-only households. This was a sad chapter in Hawai`i's history, 
but fortunately, today, thanks to the effort of many Hawai`i residents, 
political and community leaders, and educators, the Hawaiian language 
is thriving.
  In 1978, the Hawaiian language, also called `Olelo Hawai`i by its 
speakers, was declared one of the two legal languages of the State of 
Hawai`i. In 1984, the first Hawaiian language preschool was 
established, `Aha Punana Leo. Three years later, Hawaiian language 
immersion expanded to include kindergarten through grade 12, and today, 
students can study the Hawaiian language from preschool through their 
doctorate studies.
  Use of the Hawaiian language is not limited to its fluent speakers. 
Those who live in and visit Hawai`i use Hawaiian words and phrases in 
their everyday vocabulary, whether they are Native Hawaiian or not. 
Towns, roadways, schools, and parks bear Hawaiian names. Island 
residents commonly give each other directions using the words mauka--
meaning towards the mountains, or makai--meaning towards the ocean. A 
waitress might ask you if you are pau, or done, with your meal before 
she clears the table. You might tell her it was `ono, or delicious.
  Some of the more commonly used words, including aloha and mahalo, are 
known well beyond the shores of Hawai`i. I probably do not have to 
explain that mahalo means thank you, or that aloha is a greeting that 
conveys warmth, love, and affection and is used to both welcome someone 
and wish them well.
  The Hawaiian language is thriving in our modern society and it 
remains relevant as technology evolves around us. The iPhone and 
Google's homepage are just two instances where the Hawaiian language 
can be selected as an option in language settings. Developers of the 
popular website, Wikipedia, borrowed the Hawaiian word wikiwiki, 
meaning speedy, for its name. Travelers through Honolulu International 
Airport are greeted every half hour with a public announcement first in 
Hawaiian, followed by its English translation. Local television 
reporters and weather forecasters consult with language experts on 
Hawaiian pronunciation. One of the morning news shows features a 
segment produced entirely in the Hawaiian language. Cable subscribers 
receive a channel featuring Hawaiian language reporting.
  The Hawaiian language is engrained in our daily lives in Hawai`i, and 
is important to all of Hawai`i's people. I am extremely grateful for 
the efforts made by kupuna, our elders, as well as language and 
cultural educators, to preserve the Hawaiian language. According to the 
University of Hawai`i at Hilo, there are approximately 7,500 people 
learning the Hawaiian language today, from preschools, institutions of 
higher education, and community programs. Parents are again raising 
their children to speak Hawaiian. While there is an increasing interest 
in the Hawaiian language, this is still just a small percentage of the 
population of the State of Hawai`i. I applaud the State for designating 
February as the ``Month of the Hawaiian Language'' and bringing 
awareness to the need to perpetuate our language so that future 
generations may learn the language of their ancestors.
  E ola mau ka `Olelo Hawai`i! Long live the Hawaiian language.

                          ____________________