Mokuola Honua
Pilina First’s partners and associates helped to develop and lead this Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence including
messaging and marketing, educational program development, and event marketing, planning, and execution.
Our work with Mokuola Honua and its founding partners - ʻAha Pūnana Leo and Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, Hawaiian Language College at UHH - also included extensive engagement with various agencies and entities at the United Nations both in New York City and Paris around indigenous language and culture advocacy.
Mokuola Honua, Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence, is bringing back prominence for indigenous perspective in modern contexts through language.
The Center is providing structure, purpose and space to create a stronger global network supporting indigenous language revitalization globally and is housed in the Hawaiian Language College of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
What is Ola?
Over the past 35+ years, the mantra of the Hawaiian language movement has been “E Ola ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.” “The Hawaiian language shall live.” "What is Ola?” is a travel documentary, produced by Pilina First’s partners and ʻŌiwiTV and hosted by Keli‘i Wilson, one of the very first immersion graduates and daughter of two ‘Aha Pūnana Leo founders.
Born in the mid-80’s, Keli‘i and her brother were a couple of the very first children, outside the Ni‘ihau community, to once again be raised speaking Hawaiian as their first language. Join us as we follow Keli‘i to Greenland, Spain and Wales - home to thriving indigenous languages - to get an idea of what this state of ola might look like for our ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i in the future. Click HERE to watch the entire film.
