‘Aha punana Leo
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ʻAha Pūnana Leo
A non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Hawaiian language community. Organizes the Pūnana Leo Hawaiian language immersion preschools in Hawaiʻi. The Pūnana Leo language nest provides a cultural educational environment that emulates Mauli Ola Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language and Culture). Currently, the program consists of 11 Pūnana Leo preschools, one Hiʻi Pēpē infant-toddler program, and a family learning enrichment program.
Story & Mission
In 1983, ʻAha Pūnana Leo was created as a grassroots effort with the sole purpose of reviving ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Now, ʻAha Pūnana Leo serves as a local, national and international model for language revitalization. Over the past several decades, ʻAha Pūnana Leo established and built numerous programs throughout the islands, helped to lift a 90-year ban on teaching Hawaiian in public and private schools, advocated for other indigenous people and raised awareness about the consequences of the loss of indigenous languages.
Our mission is to drive and inspire change to ensure a living Hawaiian language in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
E hoʻoulu i ke kaiaʻōlelo Hawaiʻi no ko Hawaiʻi nei i mau aku ʻo Hawaiʻi he ʻāina Aloha.
Latest Stories of ‘Aha Pūnana Leo
Lākina: Teaching Latin Through Hawaiian
One of the greatest challenges for the Hawaiian language movement is overcoming the assumption that English is the only other language that matters and Hawaiian is fighting an uphill battle to unseed that dominant language. The same is no doubt true for many of our...
What is Pūnana Leo?
Learn about the Pūnana Leo Hawaiian medium education preschool system.
Hakalama: Pūnana Leo’s Literacy Program
Learn about the approach Pūnana Leo preschools are using to teach their students how to read as early as age four.