Olelo at Home
This week's newsletter comes from a question sent in by one of our readers. She is a homeschool mom with young children looking for ways to teach olelo Hawaii at home, keep her kids connected to Hawaiian culture, and find resources suited for young learners. Her situation is one I imagine many of you can relate to, so I thought it was worth addressing here.
I am going to cover a lot in this email, but in general I would suggest working on pronunciation first, then vocabulary, and finally phrases, in that order.
Authentic Sound
The most foundational skill is a command of Hawaiian pronunciation, starting with the alphabet, vowels, and consonants. From there, practice pronouncing short words. Sticky notes around the house are a simple and effective tool. Every time the family sees the pahu hau, they can practice saying the word and start associating it with the fridge.
A common mistake is jumping straight to phrases before mastering the basics. The result is a pronunciation that sounds nothing like Hawaiian. Take the time to master the fundamentals first.
Hawaiian Voice and Vocabulary
Pronunciation cannot be developed without listening. No matter what your first language is, reading Hawaiian through that lens will color how you pronounce it. You need a Hawaiian speaker to pattern after.
Take Puana, my pronunciation course, for actual instruction, or start with these listening resources:
Play recorded interviews in the background for passive listening. Other times, gather around a speaker and replay the same 30 seconds to a minute and discuss what you heard. Without exposure to good speakers of Hawaiian, you are guessing when it comes to authentic sound.
Music can work too, but you have to know which artists to listen to. Many mispronounce words or stress the wrong syllable. That deserves its own newsletter.
For the Book Worm
Reading is great for building vocabulary, especially if you read out loud. The downside is that without the voice of a good speaker to guide you, pronunciation is still a shot in the dark.
My friend Keao Nesmith has translated several classic books into Hawaiian worth checking out, including Harry Potter, The Hobbit, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Prince, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, and Winnie the Pooh.
Check reading levels before purchasing as some can be challenging for beginners. For ages 1 to 5, the Little Island Readers Series is a great option with about 6 books in total.
Write it Out
Have the kids look up words in the dictionary or the online dictionary and make sticky notes, flash cards, create a matching game using words relevant to their everyday life and interests. Five new words a week is doable, and written quizzes help with retention.
One thing to note: steer clear of the dictionary ❌ Mamaka Kaiao ❌
Ideas for homeschool are endless and many of them apply to anyone learning. If there is a particular area you would like more guidance on, let me know!
Lawa no paha keia,
Maluhia
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