UH Hilo Hawaiian language grad student awarded inaugural Makuakāne fellowship
Bruce Torres Fischer’s research will focus on phonological variations in the speech of mānaleo, native speakers of the Hawaiian language, through analyzing archival audio recordings.
Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani, the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, has named the first-ever recipient of the Daniel and Lydia Makuakāne Endowed Fellowship.
Bruce Torres Fischer, a master’s candidate at the college, is the inaugural awardee. Fischer’s research will focus on phonological variations in the speech of mānaleo, native speakers of the Hawaiian language, through analyzing archival audio recordings.
Established through the generosity of the Makuakane ‘ohana, the fellowship is aimed to support graduate students toward completion of the research and writing phase of their masters thesis and doctoral dissertation. The endowment honors their parents, Daniel and Lydia Makuakāne, for their contributions to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian language and cultural practices.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the first Daniel and Lydia Makuakane Endowed Fellowship recipient,” says Torres Fischer. “Mahalo nui to the Makuakane family for establishing this important resource to support graduate students pursuing scholarship in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.”
Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, founded in 1998, is the only college in the U.S. that focuses on Hawaiian and other Indigenous languages. Notably, the college was recently awarded the lead role in establishing the inaugural National Native American Language Resource Center under the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education, with specific focus on supporting Native American Language communities and their efforts in language revitalization.
“We are so grateful to the entire Makuakane ‘ohana for providing this incredible opportunity to support the next generation of Hawaiian language scholars,” says Ka‘iu Kimura, director of the college. “Their vision in establishing this fellowship will have an enormous impact by helping our students finish their degrees and go on to be leaders in language revitalization and education in Hawai‘i.”
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