What's Happening?
A new Hawaiian language immersion preschool is scheduled to open in Hilo by 2028, located adjacent to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. This initiative aims to address the increasing demand for Hawaiian language education. The preschool, a collaborative effort
between the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the Hawaii State Charter School Commission, and Aha Punana Leo, will offer early childhood education in Hawaiian to up to 80 pre-kindergarten students. Construction for the facility, awarded to Nan Inc., is slated to commence in March 2027. The project is funded by the Ready Keiki initiative, a statewide program focused on expanding access to early learning. According to Ka‘iu Kimura, Executive Director of Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language, the U.S. Census data indicates Hawaiian as the fastest-growing non-English language spoken in homes across the state, with speakers increasing from 18,400 in 2016 to 27,338 in 2024. In Hawaii County alone, the number of speakers more than doubled from approximately 5,000 to 11,279 during the same period.
Why It's Important?
The establishment of this new immersion preschool is a significant step in the ongoing efforts to revitalize and preserve the Hawaiian language, which faced suppression following the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The growing number of Hawaiian language speakers, as evidenced by U.S. Census data, highlights a critical need for educational infrastructure to support this cultural resurgence. By providing early childhood education in Hawaiian, the preschool will help ensure that younger generations grow up with the language as their primary or major language, fostering a deeper connection to their heritage. This initiative also supports the University of Hawaii at Hilo's mission to develop educators fluent in Hawaiian, who can then support Hawaiian medium education across the state. The project's focus on professional development opportunities for students in UH Hilo’s Kahuawaiola Hawaiian and Indigenous Teacher Education Program will create a pipeline of qualified teachers, addressing the current shortage in immersion programs and strengthening the overall educational ecosystem for Hawaiian language learners.
What's Next?
Construction of the ‘Imiloa preschool is set to begin in March 2027, with an anticipated opening in the fall of 2028, in time for the 2028-29 school year. The campus will feature four classrooms, each designed to accommodate 20 students, along with outdoor play spaces that integrate native Hawaiian ethnobotany. Details regarding the enrollment process and tuition fees are currently being finalized. The operational funding for the school will be sourced from a combination of contributions from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the Hawaii State Charter School Commission, and other public and private partners. This multi-faceted funding approach aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program. The success of this preschool could serve as a model for future Hawaiian language immersion initiatives, potentially leading to the development of more such facilities across the state to meet the increasing demand for Hawaiian language education.
Beyond the Headlines
This preschool project extends beyond basic education; it represents a profound commitment to cultural preservation and identity. The revitalization of the Hawaiian language, which began in the 1980s, is now yielding tangible results, with a growing community of speakers raising their children in Hawaiian-speaking households. This trend underscores the importance of language as a carrier of cultural values, worldviews, and historical knowledge. By immersing young children in the Hawaiian language from an early age, the school aims to cultivate a generation that is not only fluent but also deeply connected to the unique perspectives and traditions embedded within the language. This effort is crucial for maintaining the diversity of human thought and expression, especially for an indigenous language native to a specific landmass. The project highlights the ethical imperative to support and sustain indigenous languages, recognizing their invaluable contribution to global cultural heritage and the unique insights they offer into understanding the world.
