In a significant push to support the Hawaiian language and its place within the education system, Gov. Josh Green recently signed into effect a measure that will increase funding by $3.5 million. This move, as reported by Hawaii Public Radio, will see the hiring of 10 new kaiapuni teachers and three curriculum specialists tied to the state Department of Education. These additions aim to enhance and closely monitor the academic triumphs of the approximately 1,400 students enrolled in Hawaiian language immersion programs, which have observed a 60% spike in recent years.
The legislation also obligates the DOE to strategically plan to further nurture kaiapuni education. "I want to express our gratitude and appreciation for the support of HB 2074, which provides much-needed resources to our kula kaiapuni and the growth that we're experiencing," Kaʻiu Kimura, director of the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, told Hawaii Public Radio. These recent decisions honor the 2019 Hawaii Supreme Court affirmation that the state must actively engage in the rebirth of its native language, as mandated by Article 10, Section 4 of Hawaii’s state Constitution.
While the state makes strides at the governmental level, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has also actively taken steps to strengthen Hawaii's cultural identity. OHA has awarded more than $2.7 million in grants to community nonprofits across the islands. This funding, as detailed by Maui Now, will bolster various initiatives, including those that foster ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi instruction, promote ʻāina stewardship, and prepare students for careers, benefiting organizations on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi.
OHA trustees have sought to drastically simplify their grants process to encourage greater community involvement, aspiring to establish deeper connections through educational and careers support services. "It is not only our honor but our kuleana to work with these outstanding community nonprofits who are making a difference in the lives of our people," said OHA Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey in a statement obtained by Maui Now.
