Pūnana Leo facts for kids

Pūnana Leo (which means "voice nest" or "language nest") are special private preschools in Hawaii. They are run by families and are non-profit. In these schools, everything is taught and managed in the Hawaiian language.

The very first Pūnana Leo school opened in 1984 in Kekaha, Kauaʻi. At first, it was even opened illegally! These schools were inspired by old Hawaiian-language schools from the 1800s and also by Māori language schools in New Zealand. Pūnana Leo was the first project in the United States to teach young children completely in an indigenous language. Kids who have gone to Pūnana Leo schools have done very well in their studies later on.

As of 2023, there are 13 Pūnana Leo preschools. You can find them on five of the Hawaiian Islands: Hawaiʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi. Pūnana Leo (lit. voice nest; often translated as "language nest") are private, non-profit preschools run by families, in which the Hawaiian language is the language of instruction and administration.

Initially opened illegally, the first Pūnana Leo opened in 1984 in Kekaha, [[Kauaʻi]]. Based on the practices of 19th-century Hawaiian-language schools, as well as the Māori language revival kindergartens in New Zealand, the Pūnana Leo was the first indigenous language immersion preschool project in the United States. Graduates from the Pūnana Leo schools have achieved several measures of academic success in later life.

As of 2022, there were a total of 11 Pūnana Leo preschools, with locations on five of the Hawaiian Islands.

The Story of Pūnana Leo Schools

How Pūnana Leo Began

The organization behind these schools is called ʻAha Pūnana Leo. It was started in 1983 by a group of Hawaiian language teachers. Some of these important people included Larry Kimura, Kauanoe Kamanā, and William H. "Pila" Wilson.

Bringing Back the Hawaiian Language

Starting these schools was a big challenge. For a long time, using the Hawaiian language in schools was against the law. This ban started in 1896 and lasted until 1986. In the 1970s, there was a "Hawaiian Renaissance." This was a time when people wanted to bring back Hawaiian culture and language. Because of this, Hawaiian became an official language again in 1978. This was part of recognizing the rights of the people of Hawaii.

Fighting for Language Rights

Even though Hawaiian was an official language, there were still many rules that made it hard to use in schools. For example, public schools had to teach in English. Also, many native Hawaiian speakers could not teach because they did not have the right papers.

Families who supported Pūnana Leo worked for three years to change these laws. Some people worried that teaching by "untrained" individuals might harm children. But the families kept pushing.

From Illegal Schools to Immersion Programs

The public school system was slow to offer Hawaiian language classes. So, parents started to boycott the public schools. As their children grew, they boycotted kindergarten, then elementary school, and even middle school. This pressure helped create "schools-within-schools." These are special programs inside regular schools where everything is taught in Hawaiian.

Today, the Pūnana Leo preschools are at the heart of the ʻAha Pūnana Leo organization. This group has helped create a full Hawaiian-language education system. This system now includes schools from kindergarten all the way through high school. It even has programs for advanced degrees in the language.

The ʻAha Pūnana Leo also creates learning materials and trains teachers for its preschools. The first group of students who started at Pūnana Leo graduated from high school in 1999. In 2002, the Hilo campus of the University of Hawaii gave out the first master's degree that was completed entirely in the Hawaiian language.

Goals of Pūnana Leo Schools

Why These Schools Are Important

The main goals of Pūnana Leo schools are to bring back the Hawaiian language and to help kids feel proud of their Hawaiian identity. They also want to teach "other central features of a person's life and the life of a people."

How the Schools Work

The schools use a special Hawaiian teaching idea called Ke Kumu Honua Mauli Ola. This idea means that parents help out a lot. They give their time and work to the schools. Parents also need to take Hawaiian language classes and help run the schools through a parent committee. This way of doing things is based on how Hawaiian schools worked in the 1800s and how Māori language schools in New Zealand operate.

The lessons include Hawaiian cultural practices. Kids learn about gardening native plants and making lei (flower necklaces). They also visit important historical places. Another important practice they learn is hoʻokipa, which means hospitality.

Student Success

Some people worried that Pūnana Leo schools might hurt students' learning. But students who have graduated from these schools have done very well in their studies later in life. This is true even though the schools focus more on bringing back the language than just on test scores.

A scholar named Teresa L. McCarty, who studies indigenous language education, said that students from these schools have won important scholarships. They have also taken college classes while still in high school. They even passed college English writing tests, even though most of their English, science, and math classes were in Hawaiian. Their scores on regular tests have been as good as, or even better than, other Native Hawaiian children in English-only schools. So, these schools not only help bring back the language but also help students feel proud of their culture and do well in school.

See also

• Language revitalization
• Linguistic rights
• Hawaiian language
• University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
• Calandretas, ikastolas, and Diwans, similar immersion schools for Occitan, Basque, and Breton learners, respectively.