‘Olelo Hawaii ‘Oe? Campaign

Kanaeokana, the Kula Hawaii Network, would like to mahalo the organizers, vendors and community for participating in Molokai’s first ʻOlelo Hawaii ʻOe? campaign that was held on Saturday, June 3 at the Kamehameha Day Hoʻolauleʻa at Molokai Community Health Center. The purpose of the campaign was to engage all sectors of the community in using ‘olelo Hawaii for day to day tasks, such as shopping and browsing for food and merchandise at community events. 

Keiki to kupuna who came to the Hoʻolauleʻa to honor Kamehameha Day were encouraged to ‘olelo Hawaii to their best ability with each other and the many vendors at the Hoʻolauleʻa. Vendors issued tickets as an incentive to community members who tried to order, talk story or just ask questions in Hawaiian. Participants then took their tickets to the ‘Olelo Hawaiʻi ʻOe? booth and redeemed their tickets for free aloha ‘aina swag that included stickers, pins, hats and even designs that were heat-pressed onto their own garments. A big mahalo to Tyler Tanaka and Leinaʻala Lopez of Moʻomohala Molokai for inviting Kanaeokana, and to Kamehameha Schools Kaiaulu for their support of the campaign. Finally, we could not have done this without the help of the many volunteers who helped to staff our booth in the Hawaiian language! Kanaeokana hopes to support more events on Molokai that promote and encourage the use of ‘Olelo Hawaii.

Mahalo to our Molokai volunteers Anne Steinke, Brianna Dudoit, Haleh Hanley, Hiwa Ritte, Kahekili Pa-Kala, Kilia Purdy-Avelino, Keahe Ross, Mokihana Cabunoc-Umemoto, Paul Hanley,

Pueo Akina-Surminap and Wailani Hernandez. 

Lauren Kikukawa

Kanaeokana