Ulu a Kawowo: Expanding Efforts to Reclaim and Establish New Hawaiian Language Domains

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 10:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Celebrating Indigenous Heritage: Elevating the Arts, Language, and Culture Through Research (Table 7)

Abstract

Over the past four decades, Kānaka (Native Hawaiians) have experienced a remarkable resurgence of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). With many immediate threats to the language mitigated, the movement can address broader challenges hindering future progress. A critical gap exists between theoretical fluency gained in a classroom and practical, culturally relevant use of the language in daily life. As the ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi community grows each year, the need and possibility for reclaiming and expanding language domains become increasingly intertwined. This article foregrounds five emerging Kanaka scholars actively contributing to this crucial work. Examining their initiatives will provide valuable insights into the successes and challenges of expanding ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi domains, hopefully inspiring fellow emerging scholars and future generations to pursue similar endeavors.

Authors

• Jeffrey Chun-Lum, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

• William M. Cook, Windward Community College

• Kealohi Foster, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

• Keanupohina Manoa, Brigham Young University - Hawaii

• Christian Tabor, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa