Directions:
1. With a red piece of chalk, draw a circle on a busy sidewalk large enough to fit about five kanaka sitting down.
2. On the outside of the circle following the curve of the circle write: "A Sanctuary: within the circle Hawaiian language only"
3. On the inside of the circle right beneath the Olelo Pelekane following the curve of the circle write: "He Puuhonua: Olelo Hawaii wale no"
4. Sit in the middle of the circle and wait. If someone should enter the circle, greet them: "Aloha mai, pehea oe?"
5. Continue to olelo Hawaii to your guests within the circle teaching them and encouraging them all the time remembering that you represent your kupuna with what you say and do and how you react . Do not respond to confrontation.
6. Be patient with yourself and your guests. Make friends :) You may want to bring games to play like checkers or cards, anything to create conversation.
7. When you are finished, wash away the Puuhonua with a bucket of water. Malama pono.
If you saw a lonely kanaka sitting in a red circle on the sidewalk of Kalakaua Avenue what would you do? It is my hope that the practice of creating these olelo Hawaii circles will increase the opportunity to olelo Hawaii outside of the classroom. Many of us leave kulanui with the ability to olelo but lose it for lack of use. There are thousands of us whose use of the language is limited to online chatting or reading or speaking to only those in our families and halau. I hope to change that.
E ola mau ka olelo Hawaii!
Part of my fun with the language is being able to choose from ke kini o pa'a i na mele words. I will share the chorus of a semi popular mele you may recognize, by a kanaka that people either love, hate, or hate to love.
Hehehe Henehene
ihihi hinihini
Wahia ka uhini
Eia nei!
The words that were chosen and the meanings to the words fit together perfectly for me, like a puzzle that was solved. Of course, your mileage may vary. Meaning is with the definer.
Is this idealism, wishful thinking, or a practical joke? Try take one camera with you on one of your 'excursions.' I like see how this works. Also, is this supposed to work in the general public or only at family reunions? I think the best point you make is perhaps befriending an obviously lonely kanaka. By obviously, I mean subtly or overtly in need.
I think there are other ways to spread awareness in the language. One could start by covertly stringing in 'olelo Hawai'i throughout their sentences. If lakou hear oe, I mean really hear oe, lakou will get your 'elele waha 'ole.
So, you see, sometimes, nay most times, na'auao is hidden in plain sight. Subtlety sometimes speaks louder then purple rainbows and red circles.
Replies
Part of my fun with the language is being able to choose from ke kini o pa'a i na mele words. I will share the chorus of a semi popular mele you may recognize, by a kanaka that people either love, hate, or hate to love.
Hehehe Henehene
ihihi hinihini
Wahia ka uhini
Eia nei!
The words that were chosen and the meanings to the words fit together perfectly for me, like a puzzle that was solved. Of course, your mileage may vary. Meaning is with the definer.
Maika.
I think there are other ways to spread awareness in the language. One could start by covertly stringing in 'olelo Hawai'i throughout their sentences. If lakou hear oe, I mean really hear oe, lakou will get your 'elele waha 'ole.
So, you see, sometimes, nay most times, na'auao is hidden in plain sight. Subtlety sometimes speaks louder then purple rainbows and red circles.
Just kidding. Aloha'aha'a,
Maika.
It works anywhere a red circle can be drawn.
I agree that speaking Hawaiian all the time is the best way to spread the language.
'elele waha ole
n. Letter, written message. Lit., messenger without mouth.
We are already wisdom.
Subtlety has its place.
No kidding.
Kainoahemolele