E ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi!

"The Hawaiian language shall live!"

Department-Wide Guidance Underscores Commitment to Further Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Practices Into Conservation Stewardship

February is Hawaiian Language Month (Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi)

Hawaiian is an official language of the State of Hawaiʻi: Article XV, Section 4 of the Hawaiʻi Constitution.
February is designated as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Month under the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) - HRS § 8-24.
A dashboard of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi events may be found at https://www.mahinaolelohawaii.org/

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Highlights from Interior Bureaus and Offices:

Hawaiian Forest Birds Report by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations Elevates Indigenous Knowledge and Includes Abstract in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
- News Release
- Report
Haleakalā National Park Preserves Native Hawaiian Language through Hawaiian Immersion Educational Materials
- News Release
- Educational Materials

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Resources:

Online Dictionaries - Nā Puke Wehewehe ʻŌlelo HawaiʻiIncludes Hawaiian Dictionary by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel H. Elbert.
U.S. Board on Geographic Names - Domestic Names in Geographic Names Information System"The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) Domestic Names Committee (DNC) is at the hub of a national network of State and academic names authorities." The Hawaiʻi Board on Geographic Names is responsible for designating the official names and spellings of geographic features in Hawaiʻi and submits them to the BGN.
Directory of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Translators - Ka Papa Kuhikuhi Poʻe Unuhi"[A]n online directory of professional Hawaiian language translators created to help meet the growing demand from the government and private sectors to have websites, technical documents, signage, and public notices, etc. translated into Hawaiian.

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Tools and Tips:

Hawaiian keyboards with the ʻokina (ʻ) and vowels with the kahakō (Āā, Ēē, Īī, Ōō, Ūū) are available on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS, Chrome OS.
Hakalama Chart to practice ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi pronunciation
- Hakalama - ʻAha Pūnana Leo's Literacy Program https://youtu.be/eEYs9wOUxsE?si=LB0wETZ8e3U5BZNW
- Hakalama Follow-Along Practice: https://youtu.be/-UJPG33Atys?si=JoqJarTCse28hPe2

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