Kalena Silva is the former director of Ka Haka Ula O Ke’elikolani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and a Professor of Hawaiian Language & Hawaiian Studies. Dr. Silva teaches courses in Hawaiian language, literature, culture, and performing arts in the College’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Since the inception of modern Hawaiian medium education-first in the nonprofit ‘Aha Pūnana Leo Preschool Program and later in the Hawai’i Department of Education’s Kula Kaiapuni Hawai’i Hawaiian Immersion Program- Dr. Silva has developed P-12 Hawaiian language educational materials for use in the schools. Curriculum materials include original stories, songs, and Hawaiian translations of science and social studies texts. As a part of Hawaiian immersion teacher training at UH-Hilo, he has also offered courses in traditional literature, oratory, poetry, chanting, and dance.
About Kīpuka Moʻolelo
He papa hana hou ʻo Kīpuka Moʻolelo e hāpai aʻe ana i ka ʻōlelo, moʻomeheu, a kuanaʻike Hawaiʻi ma ka hoʻonaʻauao, kālaiʻāina, mele, a hoʻopaipai pū. Ma ka holo ʻana o ka papa hana, nānā ʻia ka moʻolelo o kekahi o nā koa o ke aukahi hoʻōla ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, a pēlā pū hoʻi nā kānaka e ʻaʻa nei i nā palena o ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. He papa hana laulima ʻo Kīpuka Moʻolelo na ʻŌiwi TV, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, ke Kikowaena Kilo Hōkū ʻo ʻImiloa, a me ke Koleke ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ʻo Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani.
Kīpuka Moʻolelo is a new series exploring the contemporary use of the Hawaiian language, culture, and perspective in the areas of education, politics, music, and advocacy. Over the course of the series, we learn about the journey of a few early proponents of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement as well as others who are pushing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi into new domains. Kīpuka Moʻolelo is a collaboration between ʻŌiwi TV, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, and Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
