Mark Fettes (mfettes@magi.com)
__________________________________________________________________________
>Date: Wed, 26 Apr 1995 14:00:28 -1000
>From: Rose Mary Henze <henze@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
>To: Endangered-Languages-L@postbox.anu.edu.au
>
>> I am writing to ask people on this list for support in a time that is yet
>> another turning point for the survival of the Hawaiian language. Here is
>> a thumbnail sketch of the situation:
>>
>> As some of you may already know, Hawaiian is currently experiencing a
>> renaissance of sorts after coming very close to extinction. Except for
>> the island of Ni'ihau, which has a very small population, there were
>> virtually no native speakers left under the age of 70. Now, after a
>> great deal of effort by community members, support from university and
>> community college programs whcih teach Hawaiian, and the Department of
>> Education, Hawaiian is being learned as a second language by
>> approximatley 800 students preschool through 8th grade in an immersion
>> program. Teachers for this program are drawn from among those who have
>> studied Hawaiian in the university. The State of Hawai'i also now
>> recognizes Hawaiian as one of the "official" languages of Hawai'i.
>> Though the language is not being spoken widely in communities, and
>> intergenerational transmission of it as a home language is still a long
>> way off for most families, there has been clear progress in terms of
>> creating many new speakers (both adults and children) and extending
>> Hawaiian into new domains (e.g. all school subjects through 8th grade are
>> taught through Hawaiian; a lexicon committee meets regularly to coin new
>> words for these school and other uses). Some of the recent literature on
>> language revitalization cites the Hawaiian case as an example of success
>> (e.g. Leanne Hinton's Flutes of Fire). Enthusiasm is demonstrated
>> locally in long waiting lists for Hawaiian language classes at the adult
>> level and similarly long waiting lists for space in the immersion program
>> itself. The program is actively recruiting new teachers who are
>> proficient speakers of Hawaiian, but there are far too few to fill the
>> need.
>>
>> The problem currently is that the governor is doing some serious budget
>> cutting and higher education is one of the targets. Within higher Ed.,
>> the Hawaiian language program stands to lose about two-thirds of its
>> current operating budget. If this happens, it will have a tremendous
>> ripple effect on the revitalization of Hawaiian in general. Hawaiian
>> language classes at the university would be cut back drastically, and as
>> a result there could be no further hiring for the immersion program,
>> desp[ite waiting lists, "official" language status, Native AMerican
>> Languages Act, etc.
>>
>> I think that support from a national and international community
>> concerned with endangered languages might make an impression on
>> decision-makers. I don't think they realize the extent to which this is
>> a global issue, nor are they aware that other people are looking to
>> Hawai'i as one of the examples of strong revitalization efforts.
>>
>> If you are willing ,please write letters expressing your concern,
>> outrage, etc. to the following people:
>>
>> Kenneth Mortimer, President
>> UNiversity of Hawai'i at Manoa
>> Bach 202
>> Honolulu, HI 96822
>> FAX: (808) 956-5286
>>
>> Governor Ben Cayetano
>> Office of the Governor
>> State Office Towers
>> Honolulu, HI 96813
>>
>> Please cc any correspondence to:
>>
>> No'eau Warner, Coordinator
>> Hawaiian Language Program
>> Spaulding 459
>> 2540 Maile Way
>> University of Hawai'i at Manoa
>> Honolulu, HI 96822
>>
>> Thank you,
>
> Rosemary Henze
>>
>