Read this article in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
By Pililuaikekaiohilo Keala, Ed.D.
Every February, Hawaiian language month, there are a multitude of events put on to normalize the use of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi through celebration and education across communities.
This is indeed a busy time for many Hawaiian immersion schools, organizations that provide Hawaiian language education, and one woman who has remained steadfast in her purpose to strengthen and grow ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier.
From the Lā Kūkahekahe events, to the Hoʻomau concerts, to the TV program Kulāiwi, to the Ola ka ʻĪ events of today, Aunty Ekela is there, continuing efforts to revitalize the use of the Hawaiian language while showing the aloha that is present in our esteemed language.
This is but a humble voice of gratitude and honor for you, Aunty Ekela, for all of the years of dedication to the education, encouragement, and the overall increase of Hawaiian language.
Ola Ka ʻĪ aims to normalize the use of Hawaiian language through games, songs, educational activities, and speech competitions for students from elementary through high school.
Pililuaikekaiohilo Keala, Ed.D., is an assistant professor at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
