ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi and Uchinaaguchi: Language Preservation and Cultural Revitalization in Hawaiʻi and Okinawa

Abstract

The United Nations declared 2019 The Year of Indigenous Languages. Languages around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate. Our presentation will discuss two specific languages, shimakutuba and ÿölelo Hawaiÿi (Hawaiian language), and how the University of Hawaiÿi at Mänoa Library supports language revitalization.

Hawaiÿi and Okinawa are two islands with some similarities. Both places are formerly independent kingdoms, with specific cultural differences from its colonial overseers (the United States and Japan, respectively). Both are also heavily militarized, touristic places. Hawaÿi has seen a revitalization of the ÿölelo Hawaiÿi (Hawaiian language) since the 1970s, with the Hawaiian renaissance and the establishment of Hawaiian immersion schools. Students in Hawaiÿi can now be educated in ÿölelo Hawaiÿi from preschool to graduate school and ÿölelo Hawaiÿi is one of two official languages of the State of Hawaiÿi (the other English).

There are many long existing connections between Okinawa and Hawaiÿi. One surprising one is that Okinawans are looking to Hawaiÿi to learn about Hawaiian language revitalization. Language is tied to culture and many Uchinanchu (Okinawan people) are wanting to preserve Okinawan languages. What can Okinawa learn from Hawaiÿi about language revitalization? Okinawan languages, shimakutuba, is examined in the light of Hawaiian language revitalization and some observations on how the Asia Collection supports Okinawan language revitalization will be shared. The audience will learn how Hawaiian language revitalization has affected Okinawa’s shimakutuba movement and the similarities and differences between the two regions.