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.
Vision
The Hawaiian language shall live.
Mission
Drive and inspire change to ensure a living Hawaiian language in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
Guiding Principles
Aloha lives in our spirituality, love of our language, love of our people, love of our land and love of knowledge
We support and nurture the entire ʻohana so that our vision lives.
Assuming responsibility is required by the Pūnana Leo family to fulfill expectations of completeness, thoroughness, meticulousness and perseverance in our work.
We provide multiple opportunities for learning through a Mauli Ola perspective for our Pūnana Leo ʻohana.
Kumu Honua Mauli Ola
The Kumu Honua Mauli Ola Philosophy Statement was prepared in 1998 by a group of Hawaiian-speaking educators to document and clarify the basis of schooling through Hawaiian. To ensure a wide representation of perspectives, the group was comprised of three generations of native and second language speakers of Hawaiian. These individuals came from all levels of teaching from preschool through university.
At the core of the philosophy’s foundation lies the mauli Hawaiʻi, the unique life force which is cultivated by, emanates from, and distinguishes a person who self-identifies as a Hawaiian. If tended properly, this mauli, like a well tended fire, can burn brightly. If not, like a neglected fire, it can die out.
Four major elements of an individual’s life-giving mauli are identified:
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Ka ʻAoʻao Pili ʻUhane: the spiritual element
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Ka ʻAoʻao ʻŌlelo: the language element
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Ka ʻAoʻao Lawena: the physical behavior element
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Ka ʻAoʻao ʻIke Kuʻuna: the traditional knowledge element
Mauli cannot survive if there are not also honua – places where we freely express our mauli. The Kumu Honua Mauli Ola Philosophy Statement guides ʻAha Pūnana Leo to continually establish honua where Mauli Ola Hawaiʻi can burn brightly.
Download a free .pdf version of the Kumu Honua Mauli Ola Philosophy Statement below or you can purchase a hard copy of this book via the Hale Kuamoʻo by calling 808.932.7430.
