The native language of the Hawaiian Islands is ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, a Polynesian language. It belongs to the Austronesian language family, which spans a vast geographical area from Madagascar to Easter Island. The language is deeply connected to the identity and cultural heritage of the Hawaiian people. Its story involves near-extinction followed by a deliberate effort to ensure its future.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: The Language and Its Structure
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi belongs to the Eastern Polynesian sub-group, sharing ancestry with languages like Māori and Tahitian. The alphabet uses only thirteen characters: five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w), plus one diacritical mark that functions as a consonant.
The two essential marks are the ʻokina and the kahakō. The ʻokina is a glottal stop, represented by a reversed apostrophe, and is considered the eighth consonant. The kahakō, or macron, is placed over a vowel to indicate that the sound is lengthened and stressed. These marks are phonemic and change the meaning of words entirely, such as the difference between pau (finished) and paʻu (soot or moist). The language maintains a simple syllable structure where every syllable must end in a vowel.
The Historical Journey: Decline and Revival
The use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi declined following the arrival of Westerners and the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. A turning point occurred in 1896 when the Republic of Hawaiʻi passed Act 57. This law mandated English as the sole medium of instruction in all public and private schools, effectively banning Hawaiian in the educational system.
The enforcement of this English-only policy led to intergenerational language loss, as children were often disciplined for speaking Hawaiian in school. By the mid-20th century, the language was primarily confined to the private island of Niʻihau and spoken only by a small, aging population on the other islands. This near-extinction spurred the Hawaiian Renaissance movement of the 1970s, which focused on cultural and linguistic reclamation.
The language’s revitalization began with the establishment of the Pūnana Leo, or “language nest,” immersion preschools. The first Pūnana Leo opened in 1984 on Kauaʻi, initially operating outside the law prohibiting Hawaiian-medium instruction. Inspired by the Māori Kōhanga Reo movement in New Zealand, these schools focused on creating new native speakers through full immersion from infancy. This effort successfully lobbied the state legislature, leading to the removal of the ban on teaching in Hawaiian in 1986.
Official Status and Modern Usage
The legal status of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was recognized in the 1978 State Constitutional Convention, establishing it as one of the two official languages of the State of Hawaiʻi, alongside English. This recognition provided the foundation for its integration into public life and the educational system. Today, the language is visible in government and public spaces, appearing on official documents, street signs, and state agency names.
The success of the Pūnana Leo preschools led to the K-12 Hawaiian Language Immersion Program, known as Kaiapuni, starting in 1987. This public school program allows students to receive their entire education, from kindergarten through high school, in Hawaiian. The language’s influence extends into everyday life, where common Hawaiian words like aloha (hello, goodbye, love) and mahalo (thank you) are integrated into the local English vocabulary.
The correct pronunciation of place names, such as Kīlauea or Mauna Kea, is increasingly emphasized, reflecting a broader respect for the language. The language is featured prominently in music, media, and university-level programs, including the ability to pursue advanced degrees entirely in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. The number of fluent speakers has grown significantly since the 1970s, demonstrating the success of the revitalization efforts.