Talking Story, Hawaiian Kine
The Hawaiian language, nearly extinct just 20 years ago, is enjoying a big revival thanks to immersion schools, which are honoring isle legend Don Ho
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Punana Leo children greet Don
Ho and wife Haumea,
accompanied by teacher
Kauikeolani Naniole (left), with
a song, although Hi‘iau Kam
seems more interested in the
camera
Island Grill, he portrays that iconic persona of laid-back islander with “ain’t no beeg t’ing” attitude. Hands in his pockets, he nods to the chef and waithelp as he makes his way to the table.
He dons a tan baseball cap and rose-colored glasses - as if that could disguise one of Hawaii’s most-recognizable faces. Millions around the world know the wild, unpredictable Don Ho.
“How you like the new shirt?” he asks. He looks sharp in a light denim Wrangler shirt and khaki shorts.
“Looking good,” we respond, which brings a smile to his face.
But we’re more interested in what’s under his hat. What’s on his mind, that’s the order of the day. We ask about his involvement and support of Punana Leo.
“This is a very positive thing,” he says. “They had a hard time getting started, but it’s about time that we have something like this in the schools. Every educational institution should have Hawaiian language in its curriculum.
“Punana Leo school is one way to put Hawaiian back in perspective,” he says. “They are doing an amazing job. If you visit the schools, you would be blown away. It’s so focused, even the computers are in Hawaiian.
“There are beautiful kids of all races speaking Hawaiian to each other, singing Hawaiian songs, doing Hawaiian chants. We need to support things like this. It makes everybody feel better,” he says.
Ho, 76, reflects on what the Hawaiian language and culture means personally. Born in Kakaako of Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and German parentage, his father spoke Hawaiian. So did his grandmother and aunties.
But when Ho went to school, English was mandated as the only language of instruction.
“Even at Kamehameha Schools, we had teachers from the Mainland who didn’t know the Hawaiian language,” he recalls. “They felt like they were in a foreign place. We sang Hawaiian songs in haole style.
“When I was a senior, they made me president of the Hawaiian Club, and I knew nothing about the Hawaiians. It was embarrassing.
“It’s like brain-washing,” he laments. “They send you to school ... all you do is English, arithmetic, ABCs, no Hawaiian. They teach you God Bless America, ‘I pledge allegiance to the flag,’ all of that stuff.
“When we got older, we were conned into the American dream ... taking away our basic culture. The biggest loss was the language.
“I don’t know why local people allowed that to happen. We are living the American dream and forgetting the Hawaiian dream,” Ho says.
Asked what the solution is, he says, “One way is to make them (non-Hawaiians) feel guilty as hell.”
Pretty profound stuff, we thought, from a guy who sings Tiny Bubbles and One Paddle, Two Paddle to tourists every week. As Hawaii’s ambassador to the world, he influences public opinion.
So we pose a hypothetical question: “If you were ali’i, what changes would you make in Hawaii?”
“I wouldn’t change too much the American way of life,” he replies. “What I would change is the attitude of nonHawaiians to be more responsible for the Hawaiian culture. You gonna stay in somebody’s house, you gotta show some appreciation.
“Retain the language, retain culture at the same time,” he says.
But he also observes, “Hawaiian people have lost their motivation. That’s not unusual for native people who have been overrun by empires.” It’s a form of alienation, he suggests.
“If you look at all facets of life here,” Ho says, “you’ll see the influence is still strong from the first visitors here. Nothing wrong with that. All I’m saying is don’t have short memories.”
That applies to Hawaii’s educational system, in Ho’s view. Although there is progress, with programs like Punana Leo and Hawaiian language electives, Ho notes the school system is not run by Hawaiians. “It’s run by Republicans and Democrats.”
Want a study in contrast? Attend a Punana Leo school, and see the difference. The Oahu five: Kalihi, Kawaiahao, Kaneohe, Kahuku and Waianae. Parents who enroll their kids in Punana Leo are required to take Hawaiian language classes as part of the program. This way, the language extends beyond the classroom and is practiced daily at home as well.
Some of the families succeed in re-establishing the ancestral custom of speaking totally Hawaiian at home, with English used only with those who do not speak Hawaiian.
Punana Leo’s immersion approach teaches students Hawaiian language, history and culture. Students speak and write in Hawaiian each day, for the entire day.
As a result, there is a renaissance in the study and use of the Hawaiian language in schools, in government, in print and other aspects of society. There is no other place in the world where Hawaiian is spoken. If the Hawaiian language were to become extinct in Hawaii, there would be no place to re-learn it.
Punana Leo is at the forefront of preserving this precious resource for current and future generations. It is the leader in indigenous immersion education in the U.S.
This is a good thing, according to Ho, whose career is devoted to building understanding between islanders and visitors. Hawaiian is a living language, thanks to Punana Leo, enlightened educators and supporters like Ho.
Naysayers, eh, suck ‘em up. The `Aha Punana Leo event begins with cocktails and silent auction at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and program at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $250 per person and are available by calling toll-free 1-800-498-4979, ext. 404.
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