Ph.D. program helps to preserve Hawaiian language (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Ph.D. program helps to preserve Hawaiian language

© Indian Country Today February 07, 2007. All Rights Reserved
Posted: February 07, 2007
by: The Associated Press
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414452

[AP Photo/Ronen Zilberman<.i> -- Students from the Hawaiian Immersion
School, Kula Kaiapuni 'O Waiau, performed a hula dance during the 18th
annual Ho'omau benefit concert at the Waikiki Shell, Feb. 16, 2003, in
Honolulu. The Hawaiian language and culture's ongoing revitalization is
evident in the more than 1,000 children, ages 3 to 18, who are currently
receiving their education in the Hawaiian language within the 10 schools
located on Oahu and in the University of Hawaii-Hilo's doctor of
philosophy degree in Hawaiian and indigenous language - the country's
first doctorate of its kind, according to the school.	]

HILO, Hawaii (AP) - The students in the University of Hawaii at Hilo's
first Ph.D. program are working to revitalize the Hawaiian language and
culture.

Five students are enrolled in the new program, which was established
this fall for a doctor of philosophy degree in Hawaiian and indigenous
language and culture revitalization.

It's the first doctorate in the United States in a Native language,
according to the school.

Hiapo Perreira, who is

focusing on Hawaiian literature, has tried to spread his knowledge. Last
May, he told high school seniors the tale of a boy transported to a far
country by a supernatural coconut tree.

The story was meant to teach the students that they should also help
others, just as Perreira plans to do with the aid of his doctorate.

Kauanoe Kamana, another doctoral candidate, is the principal of
Nawahiokalaniopuu Hawaiian-language immersion school, Nawahi for short,
which was founded in 1994.

Kamana's doctoral dissertation will be a practical guide to the lessons
she and others have learned in running Nawahi.

''We're not an ivory tower Ph.D. We're a community service Ph.D.,'' said
UH-Hilo Hawaiian professor Pila Wilson.

There are 15,000 people who can speak Hawaiian reasonably well, but only
about 100 remaining elders who grew up speaking it, Wilson said.

The goal is to make English the language of business and work, and
Hawaiian the language of the home for Hawaiian families, Wilson said.

''The Hawaiian language is not going to live if you are below average
when you speak,'' he said.

Strengthening Hawaiian has the broad value of strengthening Hawaiian
families and strengthening the economy, because Hawaiian culture is a
major reason when tourists come here, he said.

Only about 2 percent of Hawaii's children are in language-immersion
programs.

New Zealand has similar

programs to promote the Maori language, but it's only used in the
classrooms, not at home.

Katarina Edmonds, who is Maori working for the New Zealand Ministry of
Education, wants to improve that by earning a doctorate in the
revitalization aspect of the UH-Hilo program.

Another doctoral candidate is professor Jason Cabral, who is dedicating
his studies to Hawaiian grammar to promote a high standard for the
language.

Professor Larry Kimura grew up speaking Hawaiian; he had a significant
hand in creating the Hawaiian-language program at UH-Hilo and was
responsible recently for complete bilingualism in the exhibits at the
Imiloa astronomy education center.

Now he's interested in Hawaiian poetry.

But like fellow professors Cabral and Perreira, he has lacked a
doctorate. Now all three can earn those degrees.