How Do You Say Computer in Hawaiian?- Constance Hale

This article stirs a lot of emotion within me. It made me feel proud that our culture, as fragile as it is and as badly as it was broken, is still surviving. And not only are still surviving, but we are reconnecting with the past and building bridges to the future. We are finding new ways to weave our tradition and culture with our modern technology.

Reading about Haleʻs recount on his visit to UH Hilo reminds me of when my Hawaiian language class went to visit a kula kaiapuni on Molokaʻi. We were all seniors (there were a total of nine of us) and we went there with the idea that we would visit these keiki and have a chance to practice our language to teach the keiki a game for class. However, none of us were really prepared for what we experienced there. We all connected with the keiki, and as we taught them a game, we had a glimpse of the future. We could see the language and culture living and flourishing in these keiki. It not only gave us hope for our people, but a sense of purpose to continue the legacy just as these keiki were doing.

The efforts of NeSmith, Kawaiʻaeʻa, and Donaghy have shown that our culture is able to progress and strive in these modern times. Thereʻs a website I would like to share with you all:

http://www.awaiaulu.org/main/index.php

This is a website that a friend shared with me a few months ago. For those of you who have never seen this website, it is a project known as ʻIke Kūʻokoʻa. It is simple yet effective in getting our language (specifically that which is found in old newspapers) available for online access. Itʻs very easy. You can register within minutes, and it will assign you to a page that has been photo copied. All you have to do is transcribe EXACTLY what you see, so that it will be accessible in an online version. I believe this project is yet another big step for us to take in the progression of our language and culture.