The History of Hawaiian Language Suppression and Revival
A Note from the Author: This article was written by someone who is actively learning ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and is not yet fluent. While I've done my best to provide accurate information, please use this as a launching pad for your own learning journey. For more nuanced and in-depth understanding, I encourage you to seek out books, courses, and resources authored by Native Hawaiian speakers and fluent Hawaiian language educators. Mahalo for your understanding!
The story of the Hawaiian language is one of resilience, loss, and remarkable revival. Understanding this history helps us appreciate why language preservation matters so deeply and why every person who learns and uses ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi today is part of something profoundly important.
Before Contact: A Thriving Oral Tradition
For over a thousand years before Western contact, Hawaiian was the only language spoken in the Hawaiian islands. It was a rich, sophisticated language with an extensive oral tradition of chants (mele), stories (moʻolelo), genealogies (moʻokūʻauhau), and knowledge systems.
Hawaiian wasn't just a means of communication - it was the vessel for all cultural knowledge, from navigation and agriculture to medicine and spirituality. Everything the Hawaiian people knew about their world was encoded in their language.
The language had no written form until the 1820s, when American missionaries arrived and created a writing system based on the Roman alphabet. Ironically, while this allowed Hawaiian to be written and printed for the first time, it also marked the beginning of the language's decline.
The 19th Century: Literacy and Change
In the early to mid-1800s, Hawaiian experienced a remarkable period of literacy. After the written form was introduced, Hawaiians eagerly learned to read and write. By the 1860s, Hawaiʻi had one of the highest literacy rates in the world, with numerous Hawaiian language newspapers, books, and educational materials.
Hawaiian was the language of government, education, and daily life. The Hawaiian Kingdom conducted its business in Hawaiian, and schools taught in the native language. This was a time when ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was thriving in both oral and written forms.
However, Western influence was growing. American businessmen, missionaries, and settlers were gaining economic and political power. The seeds of language suppression were being planted.
1893: The Overthrow
In 1893, a group of American and European businessmen, with support from U.S. military forces, overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom and Queen Liliʻuokalani. This illegal overthrow wasn't just a political coup - it was a cultural catastrophe that would have devastating effects on the Hawaiian language.
The provisional government that took power was dominated by English speakers who saw Hawaiian culture and language as obstacles to their vision of a Westernized, English-speaking Hawaiʻi.
1896: The Ban
In 1896, just three years after the overthrow, the Republic of Hawaiʻi (the government established by the overthrow) passed a law making English the official language of government and education. Hawaiian was banned from being used as a medium of instruction in schools.
This wasn't just a policy change - it was cultural suppression. Children were punished for speaking Hawaiian at school. Parents were told that speaking Hawaiian to their children would harm their future prospects. The message was clear: Hawaiian was inferior, backwards, and had no place in modern society.
Many parents, wanting the best for their children and believing the propaganda that English was the only path to success, stopped speaking Hawaiian at home. Within a generation, the intergenerational transmission of the language was severely disrupted.
1898-1959: Annexation and Statehood
In 1898, Hawaiʻi was annexed by the United States. In 1959, it became the 50th state. Throughout this period, the suppression of Hawaiian language and culture continued, though the methods became more subtle.
Hawaiian was seen as a relic of the past, something quaint for tourists but not practical for modern life. English dominated education, government, business, and media. Hawaiian language newspapers closed. The number of Hawaiian speakers plummeted.
By the 1980s, the situation was dire. Fewer than 50 children under the age of 18 spoke Hawaiian as their primary language. Most native speakers were elderly. Linguists classified Hawaiian as a critically endangered language, on the brink of extinction.
The 1970s: The Hawaiian Renaissance
But something remarkable was happening. In the 1970s, a cultural and political movement known as the Hawaiian Renaissance began. Native Hawaiians and their allies started reclaiming their culture, history, and language.
This movement was sparked by several factors:
- The broader civil rights movement inspiring indigenous peoples worldwide
- Protests against the U.S. military's use of Kahoʻolawe island for bombing practice
- Growing awareness of the injustice of the 1893 overthrow
- Recognition that Hawaiian culture and language were in danger of being lost forever
Hawaiian music, hula, and cultural practices experienced a revival. But activists knew that without the language, the culture couldn't fully survive. The fight to save ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi began in earnest.
1983: ʻAha Pūnana Leo
In 1983, a group of educators and language activists founded ʻAha Pūnana Leo ("Language Nest"), the first Hawaiian language immersion preschool. This was revolutionary - and technically illegal, since Hawaiian still couldn't be used as the primary language of instruction.
The program was modeled after successful Māori language revitalization efforts in New Zealand. Children would be immersed in Hawaiian from an early age, learning the language naturally the way children learn their first language.
The success of these preschools proved that Hawaiian could be revived as a living, spoken language for a new generation.
1986: Hawaiian Becomes an Official Language
In 1986, the Hawaiian language was finally recognized as an official language of the State of Hawaiʻi, alongside English. This was a symbolic victory, but more importantly, it paved the way for legal changes.
1987: Hawaiian Language Immersion Schools
In 1987, the state legislature authorized Hawaiian language immersion programs in public schools. The first Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion schools) opened, allowing children to receive their entire K-12 education in Hawaiian.
These schools have been remarkably successful. Students not only become fluent in Hawaiian but also perform as well as or better than their English-educated peers in standardized tests. They graduate bilingual, bicultural, and deeply connected to their heritage.
1997: Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani
In 1997, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo established Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, the first college in the United States where students could earn a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree entirely through the medium of Hawaiian.
This was a watershed moment. It proved that Hawaiian could be used for higher education, academic discourse, and professional training. It created a pipeline of Hawaiian language teachers, scholars, and leaders.
The 21st Century: Continued Growth
Today, the Hawaiian language revival is considered one of the most successful indigenous language revitalization efforts in the world. While challenges remain, the progress is undeniable:
- Over 2,000 students are enrolled in Hawaiian immersion schools
- Hundreds of students have graduated from Hawaiian medium higher education programs
- Hawaiian language media, including radio, television, and online content, is growing
- New Hawaiian language dictionaries, textbooks, and learning materials are being created
- Technology companies are adding Hawaiian language support to their platforms
- A new generation of native speakers is raising their children in Hawaiian
Challenges That Remain
Despite this progress, Hawaiian is still endangered. Challenges include:
- Limited number of fluent speakers: While growing, the number of truly fluent speakers is still small
- Funding: Immersion schools and language programs need consistent financial support
- Teacher shortage: There aren't enough qualified Hawaiian language teachers to meet demand
- Domain expansion: Hawaiian needs to be used in more contexts - business, technology, science, etc.
- Intergenerational transmission: The language needs to be passed naturally from parents to children at home
- Political will: Continued government support and policy changes are needed
Why This History Matters
Understanding this history is crucial for several reasons:
1. Context for current efforts: The revival didn't happen by accident. It's the result of decades of dedicated work by activists, educators, and families who refused to let the language die.
2. Recognition of injustice: The near-loss of Hawaiian wasn't natural or inevitable. It was the result of deliberate policies designed to suppress Hawaiian culture and identity.
3. Appreciation for resilience: The Hawaiian people survived attempted cultural genocide and are reclaiming their language against tremendous odds.
4. Understanding our kuleana: Everyone who cares about Hawaiian culture has a responsibility to support language revitalization efforts.
How You Can Support the Revival
The Hawaiian language revival needs support from everyone, not just Native Hawaiians:
- Learn the language: Take classes, use apps, practice daily
- Support immersion schools: Donate to or volunteer with programs like ʻAha Pūnana Leo
- Use Hawaiian correctly: When you use Hawaiian words, use them properly with correct spelling and pronunciation
- Consume Hawaiian media: Watch, listen to, and share Hawaiian language content
- Advocate for policy: Support legislation that funds Hawaiian language education and programs
- Amplify Native voices: Listen to and elevate Native Hawaiian language activists and educators
- Teach others: Share what you learn about the language and its history
A Living Language for the Future
The Hawaiian language revival is far from over. Every person who learns Hawaiian, every child educated in immersion schools, every family that speaks Hawaiian at home is part of ensuring that ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi doesn't just survive, but thrives.
This isn't about preserving a museum piece. It's about ensuring that Hawaiian remains a living, evolving language that serves the needs of its speakers in the 21st century and beyond.
The story of Hawaiian language suppression is painful, but the story of its revival is inspiring. It proves that languages can come back from the brink of extinction when communities are committed to their survival.
E Ola Mau Ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
E ola mau ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi - May the Hawaiian language live forever.
This isn't just a wish. It's a commitment. It's a promise that the work of revitalization will continue. It's a declaration that Hawaiian will not be lost.
Every time you learn a Hawaiian word, use it correctly, or support language education, you're part of making this promise a reality. You're part of the revival.
Mahalo nui loa for taking the time to learn this history. Now go forth and be part of the solution.
Recommended Resources for Further Learning
To deepen your understanding of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and support the language revival, here are trusted resources created by Native Hawaiian speakers and educators:
Books & Dictionaries
- Hawaiian Dictionary by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel H. Elbert - The definitive Hawaiian-English dictionary, essential for serious learners
- ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings by Mary Kawena Pukui - A collection of traditional Hawaiian sayings with cultural context
- Nānā I Ke Kumu (Look to the Source) by Mary Kawena Pukui, E.W. Haertig, and Catherine A. Lee - Explores Hawaiian cultural practices and beliefs
Educational Institutions & Programs
- Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo - Offers degree programs entirely in Hawaiian, from bachelor's to doctoral level
- ʻAha Pūnana Leo - Hawaiian language immersion preschools and family programs (ahapunanaleo.org)
- Kamehameha Schools - Offers Hawaiian language and culture programs for students of Hawaiian ancestry
- University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa - Department of Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Studies offers courses and programs
Online Learning Resources
- Duolingo Hawaiian - Free app for beginners to learn basic Hawaiian
- Memrise Hawaiian courses - Vocabulary building with spaced repetition
- Hawaiian Language Online (hawaiianlanguageonline.com) - Comprehensive online courses
- Ulukau: The Hawaiian Electronic Library (ulukau.org) - Digital archive of Hawaiian language texts, dictionaries, and newspapers
Media & Content
- ʻŌiwi TV - Hawaiian language television programming
- KGMB Hawaiian Language News - News broadcasts in Hawaiian
- Hawaiian Music - Listen to artists who sing in Hawaiian to improve pronunciation and cultural understanding
These resources represent just the beginning of your learning journey. Seek out Native Hawaiian teachers, attend cultural events, and immerse yourself in the language as much as possible.
This is part 7 of our Hawaiian Language Series.
Read Part 1: Supporting the Hawaiian Language Revival
Read Part 2: Mastering the ʻOkina and Kahakō
Read Part 3: Hawaiian Grammar Basics
Read Part 4: Essential Hawaiian Words & Phrases