Hawaiʻi State
Public Library System

Posted on: February 18, 2021 | Category: Uncategorized

Learn and practice the native language of Hawai‘i. In 2012, an amendment of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes provided that the month of February be designated as “mahina ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i”, or Hawaiian Language Month. This measure was the first act to be codified in Hawaiian and English, and it states,

Mahina Olelo Hawaii.  E ike mau a e kapa ia ana ae ka mahina o Pepeluali o ia ka ‘Mahina Olelo Hawaii’ i mea e hoomaikai a e paipai aku ai i ka Olelo ana o ua Olelo makuahine nei la.

Translation: Olelo Hawaii Month. The month of February shall be known and designated as ‘Olelo Hawaii Month’ to celebrate and encourage the use of Hawaiian language.

Our libraries can help you learn a little to a lot of Hawaiian language. A few library branches have bi-lingual signage: Nānākuli, Wai‘anae, Kahuku, and ‘Āina Haina, with more locations to come! Whether you’re interested in language, history, mele, the arts, or something else, you can find something at our libraries.

Here’s a quick list of the kind of materials and resources available:

• Learn a Hawaiian Word of the Day
• Browse our catalog to learn about Hawaiian place names, royalty, poetry, zoology, or cuisine.
• Learn Hawaiian online with Mango Languages, or with book+CD sets, or books either in Hawaiian only, or that are bi-lingual.
• Borrow an ‘ukulele from select locations, along with Hawaiian music song books.
• Enjoy Hawaiian music CDs, including recorded live concerts.
• Watch DVDs of performances like Holo Mai Pele, documentaries like Ho`ohali`a: stories from our kupuna, or films like Disney’s Moana in Hawaiian.

We even have a few virtual book talks with a little or a lot of Hawaiian on our YouTube channel! So, whatever your interest and comfort level, there’s something for keiki to kupuna at your library.