February is Hawaiian Language Month

Aloha kākou! February is Hawaiian language month. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was recognized as one of two official state languages in Hawaiʻi, and in 2012, an amendment to the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes § 8-24 provided that the month of February be designated as “ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Month”.

 

This measure was the first Act to be codified in Hawaiian and English, and stated: “Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: E ʻike mau a e kapa ʻia ana aʻe ka mahina ʻo Pepeluali ʻo ia ka ‘Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi’ i mea e hoʻomaikaʻi a e paipai aku ai i ka ʻōlelo ʻana o ua ʻōlelo Makuahine nei lā.”

The month of February shall be known and designated as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Month to celebrate and encourage the use of Hawaiian language.

 

We celebrate the mother tongue of where we live and through that we perpetuate the culture of our ʻāina. Whether you can only say a few words to those of you that can have a conversation with someone else, be proud and ʻōlelo!

Thank you to Kumu `Awa for sharing these facts with us!