UH Hilo to host Children’s Literature Conference
Keynote speaker is Keao Nesmith, a Hawaiian language teacher at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy in Waimea. Panelists include artists, writers, educators, and librarians based on Hawaiʻi Island.
By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will host the 2022 Children’s Literature Conference on Friday, June 3. It is the second virtual conference in as many years sponsored by the university’s Department of English and is free and open to the public. Registration information is at the end of this post.
This year’s theme is the ʻōlelo noʻeau (Hawaiian language proverb), “ʻAʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi” (One learns from many sources), UH Hilo campus’s motto. With this proverb as inspiration, the conference will focus on multiple forms of knowledge that inspire.
“The conference aims to celebrate both the creativity and passion for children’s literature in our local communities and throughout Hawaiʻi,” says Leanne Day, assistant professor of English and conference organizer. “I am thrilled to host a diverse range of panelists who are all invested in storytelling and education for Hawaiʻi’s children.”
Conference logo is designed by English major Graecin Beebe (see illustration at top of post). “I see the way stories and legends have shaped my understanding of not only my home in Hawaiʻi, but also the rest of the world around me,” she says.
The conference will be co-moderated by two UH Hilo students: Katina Gronowski, an English major, and Allison Piña, a marine science major with biology and English minors.
Keynote
The keynote speaker is Keao NeSmith, former language instructor at UH Mānoa, now a Hawaiian language teacher at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy in Waimea. NeSmith will share his experiences translating popular fantasy series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings into ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
“Teaching at HPA has presented new opportunities for me to involve my students in the creative and translation process of the Harry Potter series,” says NeSmith. “I would often, at the start of class, spend five minutes or so projecting my translation on the large screen. I’d invite my students to watch the English column and shout out words and concepts they know in Hawaiian and I would type it in the Hawaiian column as I translate. Although they are only able to contribute in small ways, their Hawaiian word suggestions ultimately will appear in print as their contribution, and they enjoy seeing how the Hawaiian column is worded.”
NeSmith says since most of his students have already read the books or watched the movies, “they are familiar with the storyline and they find it exciting that a major international work of literature is being translated into Hawaiian, that they are witnessing the translation in real time, and that they contributed the very words that would be published.”
“All of this heightens the anticipation and thrill of the release of the next Harry Potter book for them. I get a real kick out of watching the reactions on their faces.”
Panelists
Comprised of four panels, the conference will encourage audience discussion and Q&A with the speakers. Panelists include artists, writers, educators, and librarians based on Hawaiʻi Island (see full bios).
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- Kimo Armitage, poet, children’s book author, playwright and videographer from Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu.
- Pua Aquino, cultural specialist at Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program.
- Christopher Caravalho, founder of Mana Comics.
- Yuko Green, illustrator.
- April Hail, former high school teacher and the founder of Keiki Kaukau, Hawaiʻi’s Toy Company.
- Kamalani Johnson, curriculum specialist and lecturer, UH Hilo Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
- Kahoʻokahi Kanua, manager, Division of Hale Kipa ʻŌiwi at ʻAha Pūnana Leo, and current graduate student in the Hawaiian language program at UH Hilo Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
- Patsy Iwasaki, instructor of English at UH Hilo, graphic novel author and documentary filmmaker.
- Chris Miller, video game creator, activist, and educator.
- Kaleimaile Robia, education specialist, ʻAha Pūnana Leo professional development and training program. An alumna of UH Hilo, she doubled majored in communication and Hawaiian studies, earned her master of arts in indigenous education, and holds a certificate in indigenous teacher education.
- Jing Jing Tsong, a New York Times bestselling picture book illustrator who lived in Kailua-Kona for fifteen years.
- Children’s librarians Gretchen Andrews, Kelly Campbell, and Jennifer Kauʻi Young from the public libraries in Kona, Hilo, and Laupāhoehoe.
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The panelists will focus on the significance of storytelling for Hawaiʻi’s children, encouraging educators to incorporate place-based learning and familiarity with the Hawaiian language and culture into their teaching.
“Games and other digital media have great potential to shed light on Hawaiʻi history, present, and possible futures,” says video game creator Miller. “My games are reflections of my life as a Native Hawaiian who struggled to survive in Kalihi-Palama, now living on the Big Island, trying to build a more sustainable, equitable reality through art, activism, and education.”
Creative inspiration and responsibility to culture will be discussed throughout the panels in addition to covering exciting and innovative contributions panelists have made to local communities.
“When I was approached with creating the illustrations for the Hawaiian Legends for Little Ones series, I knew the editor trusted me to develop images that were more than visually appealing,” says illustrator Tsong. “I had a responsibility to honor Hawaiian culture, a culture that has been sugar-coated, commercialized, and appropriated beyond recognition.”
Registration
This year’s conference will take place via Zoom on June 3, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. HST.
Attendees who register by May 27, 2022, will receive a certificate of participation.
By Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories.
