The Influences of Indigenous Heritage Language Education on Students and Families in a Hawaiian Language Immersion Program

Papahana Kaiapuni is a K-12 public school program in which the Hawaiian language is the medium of instruction. In 1987, parents and language activists started the program in response to the dwindling number of speakers that resulted from a nearly century-long ban on the indigenous language. This stu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heritage language journal 2010-10, Vol.7 (2), p.46-75
Main Authors: Luning, Rebecca J. I, Yamauchi, Lois A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bilingualism
Cultural Maintenance
Elementary Secondary Education
English (Second Language)
Family Relationship
Hawaii
Hawaiians
Heritage Education
Immersion Programs
Interviews
Language Maintenance
Language of Instruction
Language Usage
Malayo Polynesian Languages
Native Language Instruction
Program Descriptions
School Activities
Second Language Learning
Values
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Summary:Papahana Kaiapuni is a K-12 public school program in which the Hawaiian language is the medium of instruction. In 1987, parents and language activists started the program in response to the dwindling number of speakers that resulted from a nearly century-long ban on the indigenous language. This study examined how participation in this indigenous heritage language program influenced students and their families. Data included interviews with 12 adolescent students and their family members. Results suggested that the program promoted students' learning about and practicing traditional Hawaiian values, and influenced cultural pride among family members. Participation in the program also encouraged youths and their family members to become politically active around Hawaiian cultural issues. Unlike the more typical process in which culture is passed down from the older to the younger generations, participants viewed Kaiapuni students as the carriers of the culture and language, teaching older family members about these topics. Informants also reported that Kaiapuni promoted positive community views about both Hawaiian language and culture revitalization efforts. (Contains 3 notes.)
ISSN:1550-7076
1550-7076