With the welcoming of a new Headmaster and High School Principal, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi is excited to see an increase of Hawaiian language and culture in and out of the classroom.
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Wahi a Pōmaikaʻi Baptista, he kumu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ma ke kula kiʻekiʻe ʻo Kamehameha Hawaiʻi, “ʻOiai he mau poʻo hou kā kākou ma kēia kula, ʻike ʻia nā loli he nui i kēia makahiki kula. Kekahi mau laʻana, e oli a ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi kēia mau poʻo hou, a ke ʻike i nā haumāna iā lāua, ʻano hū ka haʻaheo i loko o nā haumāna.
ʻŌlelo pū ʻo Kiana Perreira-Keawekane, he haumāna papa 12, “ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ʻo Kumu Lehua lāua ʻo Kumu Stender, no laila, he mau lawena ko lākou. He mau lawena maikaʻi loa, no laila, pono nā haumāna e hahai. Kiana”
“Makemake nō hoʻi kēia e aʻo e pili ana ka moʻomeheu, me ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi no ka mea he waiwai nui nō hoʻi kēia iā kākou a pau e hoʻoholo mua ai i ko kākou lāhui Hawaiʻi.” wahi a ke poʻo kula hou, ʻo Holoua Stender.
Wahi pū a Lehua Veincent, ke poʻokumu hou no ke kula kiʻekiʻe, “Ke nui nei ke ʻano o ka Hawaiʻi ma kēia kula kekahi. I hiki iā kākou ke ʻike i ka waiwai o ka ʻōlelo ma nā hana o ka Hawaiʻi.”
“Nui ka walaʻau ʻana ma waena o nā kumu a me ke poʻo ma kēia kula e pili ana i nā ʻano mea Hawaiʻi, ʻAʻole ma ka papa moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi wale nō, ka ʻepekema, ka papa ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Pehea kākou e hoʻohana ai i nā wahi,e aʻo i ka haumāna ma waho o ka lumi papa.” wahi a Kumu Pōmaikaʻi.
“Ke ʻimi nei mākou i kekahi mau mea ma waho aku o ke kula i hiki iā mākou ke kōkua aku i nā haumāna i ka manawa a lākou e puka aku ai mai ke kula.” wahi a Kumu Holoua.
Me kēia hoʻohana ʻia ana o ka ʻōlelo a moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi ma ke kula, ua ʻike pū ʻia kekahi ʻano ʻaoʻao lōkahi ma waena o ka poʻe o ke kula.
“Makemake au e komo i ke kula waena, ke kula haʻahaʻa, ke kula kiʻekiʻe kekhai no ka mea, ua makemake au e ʻike, ʻike maka i nā haumāna a me nā kumu, a ʻike maka no hoʻi lākou iaʻu, koʻu kākoʻo ʻana pū i kā lākou mau hana.” wahi a Kumu Holoua.
Haʻi pū mai ʻo Kiana,“I kēia manawa, wahi a Kumu Lehua a Kumu Stender,he ʻohana kākou a pau. No laila ʻaʻole pono mākou e makaʻu kekahi i kekahi. ʻAʻole pono mākou e hilahila.”
Wahi a Kumu Lehua, “He au ʻokoʻa kēia, he au hou kēia ʻIke kākou, ʻo kēia alahele, he alahele no ka paipai ʻana i ke ʻano o ka Hawaiʻi. No ka pono o kākou, no ka pono o nā kaiaulu, no ka pono o ka ʻohana, no ka pono o nā haumāna ponoʻī. Inā hiki ke kūkulu i kēia kahua me ka paʻa ʻana i ka ʻōlelo ka moʻokūʻauhau, ka wahi nā ʻike hana, nā mea a pau. A laila hiki ke ʻike i ka waiwai o ke kanaka, ma kona ola maʻamau ma waho o ke kula.”
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Pōmaikaʻi Baptista, a Hawaiian Language teacher at Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi High School, says, “with the changes from our new principal and headmaster this year, the students take pride in their Hawaiian culture.”
Kiana Perreira-Keawekane, a KS Hawaiʻi Senior, also says that, “Kumu Lehua and Kumu Stender speak Hawaiian. And are great examples for us.”
“I use the language and culture when teaching because I understand that it fosters cultural growth and learning.” says Holoua Stender, the new KS Hawaiʻi Headmaster.
Also, according to Lehua Veincent, the new KS Hawaiʻi High School Principal, “the culture is growing in this school. This allows us to see the value of the language in all aspects of life.”
“There is a lot of talk between faculty and administration about Hawaiian education not just in cultural studies, but also in science, language courses. How will we use other locations to teach our students outside of the classroom.” says Kumu Pōmaikaʻi.
“We are seeking these pathways outside of school so that our students can be prepared to continue after graduation.” says Headmaster Holoua.
This incorporation of language and culture has also led to a greater sense of community within the school.
“I make an effort to be at the Elementary, Middle School and High School so that the faculty and students can see that I sincerely care and support their work.” says Headmaster Holoua.
Kiana further says that, “Kumu Lehua and Kumu Stender said that we are a family. We don’t need to be afraid or shame to talk to them.”
According to Kumu Lehua, “this is a different and new era. Our mission is to promote the Hawaiian culture for the benefit of us all; our communities, families and students. By building a foundation based in Hawaiian knowledge, we instill within our students an identity that empowers them outside of this school.”
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