Waipa Foundation: Bringing the Hawaiian Language back to Hale‘lea (fwd)

Thu May 27 16:41:24 UTC 2004

Waipa Foundation: Bringing the Hawaiian Language back to Hale‘lea
http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2004/05/27/news/news02.txt

[photo inset - Makana, the landmark mountain at Ha‘ena, is more commonly
known as Bali Hai due to its use as a backdrop in the movie musical
"South Pacific." Returning such Hawaiian words to regular use on the
North Shore is the goal of a new project based at Waipa.]

By LESTER CHANG - TGI Staff Writer

Members of the Waipa Foundation have secured a $53,500 grant from the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native
Americans to revive the use of the Hawaiian language in the Halele‘a
district, known more commonly as Kaua‘i's North Shore.

Another $14,892 in matching funds is anticipated to be secured to
complement the federal grant, according to Stacy Sproat-Beck, a
spokeswoman for the foundation, a Native Hawaiian non-profit
organization.

The project sets out to ensure the "continued existence of our ‘Olelo
Makuahine (mother tongue) in Halele‘a," Sproat said.

The native tongue was widely spoken in the district at one time. The
district today consists of Kilauea, Kalihiwai, Kalihikai —‘Anini,
Princeville, Hanalei - Wai‘oli, Waipa, Wainiha and Ha‘ena, Sproat said.

The district boasts a population of 6,348 people, according to U.S.
Census figures for 2003.

Within the next few months, volunteers and staffers with the Waipa
Foundation will survey the kanaka ( the indigenous people of Hawai‘i)
in the district. Supporting the effort will be Hanalei Hawaiian Civic
Club members.

The intent behind the survey is to determine how best to use and
understand the native tongue.

Most Native Hawaiians don't speak their native tongue because of history
and because of the pressures "our kupuna faced that kept them from
teaching us," Sproat said in a news release.

"Today we have the opportunity to turn the tide, to learn and to speak
(it) once again, to teach our children, so that they will be able to
teach their children," Sproat said.

As part of the project, Waipa Foundation proponents hope to interview
kupuna and native speakers to learn and "malama" (take care of) the
dialect, place names, mo‘olelo (story) and the history of Halele‘a
District, Sproat said.

The impetus for the project apparently materialized four years ago.

During the Kaua‘i Taro Festival in 2000, representatives for the Waipa
Foundation surveyed members of the Halele‘a community and people
attending the festival, Sproat said.

"Overwhelmingly, both Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian members of the Halele‘a
community identified Hawaiian language programs at the top of the
priority list," Sproat said.

A small, informal survey of the kupuna in the Halele‘a district done by
the Waipa Foundation in 2003 indicated that there may be just a few
native speakers remaining in the community, Sproat said.

The survey also revealed there are almost no "venues in the community"
where the native tongue is spoken, Sproat said.

Historically, the Hawaiian language varied from island to island, using
different sounds, vocal patterns and expressions that led to regional
dialects, Sproat said.

Providing support for the project are the Hawaiian Farmers of Hanalei
Inc., Hui Maka ‘ainana o Makana, and the Hanalei Canoe Club.

Those wanting to help with surveying work can call the Waipa Foundation
Office at 826-9969.