Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language

Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs Coordinator: Scott Saft, Ph.D.
Email: saft@hawaii.edu

Website: https://www.olelo.hawaii.edu/

Professors:

Associate Professors:

Jason Iota Cabral, Ph.D.
Kekoa Harman, Ph.D.
Betty-Joann Noelani Iokepa-Guerrero, Ph.D.
Kauanoe Kamanā, Ph.D.
Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa, Ph.D.
Kananinohea Mākaʻimoku, M.A.
Yumiko Ohara, Ph.D.
Hiapokeikikane Perreira, Ph.D.
Leisy Wyman, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor:

Frank “Kaʻiuokalani” Damas, M.A.

Adjunct/Affiliate Faculty:

Alencastre, Makalapua
Kaplan, Larry
Langlas, Charles “Kale”
Nogelmeier, M. Puakea

For Information Contact:

Ku'ulei Kepa'a
Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelilkōlani
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
200 W. Kāwili Street
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720-4091

Tel: (808) 932-7730
Email: kuulei.kepaa@hawaii.edu

Vision and Mission of the College

ʻO ka ʻōlelo ke kaʻā o ka mauli.
Language is the fiber that binds us to our cultural identity.

UH Hilo's College of Hawaiian Language, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani, was established in 1998 as the world's first college through the medium of Hawaiian. The College is named in honor of Ruth Keʻelikōlani Keanolani Kanāhoahoa, the 19th century high chiefess known for her strong advocacy of Hawaiian language and culture.

The mission of the College is to assure the revitalization and continued advancement and growth of the Hawaiian language and mauli ola Hawaiʻi. A thriving Hawaiian language is the means through which the mauli ola Hawaiʻi will once again become commonplace in both traditional and contemporary contexts in Hawaiʻi. The College joins with other Indigenous peoples in the revitalization of their own languages and cultures. Our collective efforts will ensure the furthering of local, national and international initiatives toward establishing language and cultural vibrancy throughout the world.

The Graduate Program is tied to the reestablishment of Hawaiian as the medium of education in preschools (1984) and in K-12 education (1986) and offers A Master of Arts degrees, two associated Graduate Certificates, and a Doctoral degree.

Graduate Program Learner Outcomes

Demonstrate advancement in spoken and written Hawaiian with fluency and consistency in all educational contexts, adhering to graduate-level writing standards.
Demonstrate analytical skills and comprehension of content and overall constitution of literary, cultural, and historical Hawaiian language texts.
Examine and articulate the Hawaiian language renormalization movement within the broader context of language revitalization.
Apply knowledge of and skills in the performance of Hawaiian chant, dance, and oratory.
Exhibit leadership in Hawaiian and Indigenous language and culture revitalization in academic and community environments.