Language is alive. One cannot touch language, however it touches our lives daily and is a very crucial factor in our existence. Language holds the expression as well as the values of a people. It relays communication, conveys thoughts and expresses feelings.
The life of a language depends on its usage in a given region. Many times, the loss of a language dictates the upcoming decimation of a people and is considered the end stages of death to a culture. Without an identity, culture ceases to exist. Evidence of this claim can be seen in any collapsed civilization where a population was wiped out and her remaining survivors at a loss for future sustainability. Grim circumstances portray the need to assume the next available culture, therefore abandoning all traces of the civilization that once thrived. If a language doesnʻt thrive, chance are that neither will the people of that culture. If a language dies, it is usually indicative of the death of a culture, nation or race.
When a people thrive, the language thrives and it is constantly updating to accommodate the ever-evolving times. New words are accepted as new information arises. In some cases, spelling changes to reflect the evolution of globalization. Cognates become prevalent and sounds begin to blend. This is evident in the blended progress of Latin based dialects to include other languages which have evolved since then as well. English and Spanish are two languages with Latin based roots.
The Hawaiian Language, known as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is the official language of the de facto State of Hawaiʻi. It is the original language that has evolved since the dawn of creation — one of the oldest known languages to mankind.
Based mainly upon vowels and melodic in spoken nature, European explorers as well as pioneer-spirited Americans felt that ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was quite seductive in nature. Although exotically pleasurable to the ears of foreigners, the language of Hawaiʻi wasnʻt enough to ward off imperialistic desires to ravage the paradise that was so dearly beloved.
Seduced by the charismatic culture and lush landscapes, foreigners began to dream about it being theirs. Their actions excused — for their belief system allowed freedom to sin and be forgiven, aliens to the islands forged well beyond the scopes of sharing the Good Word. Foreign agenda now included ownership of lands and power over government, however did not win legalization of heroin farms and slavery. Had they succeeded in these efforts, Hawaiʻi would be in a far worse position right now.
Within a hundred years of initial European discovery via Captain James Cook, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi suffered a near total decimation of population as well as a crucial loss of power with ever increasing amounts of foreigners.
Ravaging diseases plagued the islands until entire towns were evacuated and set on fire to deter further tragedy. Kanaka Maoli — the original people of Hawaiʻi, refused the thought of working for the people who were bullying them out of their own country. Thus with dying populations and on the brink of civil war with the immigrants who brought the Bible and stripped everything else from the people of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Monarchy was held at gunpoint from the US Navy, and Queen Liliʻuokalani was abdicated from her throne.
Sparing the final bloodshed of her people, the Queen stepped down and honored the violent insurgentsʻ wishes. Imprisoned as a hostage in her own palace, there wasnʻt much Queen Liliʻuokalani could do for her people except record her history. In 1898, Hawaiʻi was illegally annexed by America and has been illegally occupied under what the International Criminal Court and United Nations define as War Crimes. Other nations who have historically had Treaties with the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi still do today.
In recent years, the history of Hawaiʻi has been going worldwide. People flock to Hawaiʻi to help restore the landscape from military destruction and over-development. Environmental agencies are uniting with locals to end poison drops that destroy the entire ecosystem. The corruption that has bound Hawaiʻi for nearly 200 years is coming to a head and the world is watching.
Top genetic analysts claim that by the year 2044, the final decimation of the Hawaiian people will have been completed. Due to severe restriction and punishment for decades, the language of the people died out. Identity completely erased, Kanaka Maoli began to believe that their very ancestors were evil savages. This shattered sense of existence broke the spirit of a people so beautiful within — a people connected to the very dawn of creation. Imagine belonging to a race of people that were considered an endangered species. How would you feel if you were the last of your people to have survived?
The 1970s brought upon a renaissance with the bombing of Kahoʻolawe. A group of young Kanaka Maoli to form a group, a plan and make their way across a dangerous oceanic channel to the bomb target. Successful in stopping the bombing, many people had awakened and realized that their full existence was nearly erased in the events of the prior 200 years. People scrambled to share compiled information, forming a curriculum in which to teach the culture and history of Hawaiʻi.
In the past few years, battles concerning issues of every nature have provoked all people of Hawaiʻi to step up and take a stance. Arrests happen when the police get involved to protect corporate interests. One particular incident involves a protector of whatʻs sacred to Hawaiʻi.
Having been arrested for attempting to stop the desecration of our sacred mountain, Kaleikoa Kaeo chose to speak his native tongue in the eyes of the law where he was further punished for speaking the official language of the State of Hawaiʻi. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is the official language of the State of Hawaiʻi whose own state motto is written in Hawaiian. After public prompting the judge to see his own fault, change has been inspired to occur and the people of Hawaiʻi are pushing harder than ever to reconnect with language and identity.
As the language had a near 80 year time lapse, many terms had to be created to modernize the language. The formation of a grammatical structure made the language capable of being taught in schools. The modernization of the language made it relevant to the times in which we now live.
Today, classes and language groups are forming everywhere. People are eager to learn their native tongue and express themselves in the very manner their ancestors once did. Now that the language has come back to life, so has the spirit of the people. The language now thrives as her speakers are equally thriving, as a result. The resurrection of a language can determine the quality of life to the region in which it derives. Language breeds life, is organic, and is powerful. Therefore the life of a language is important to the very essence of life itself.
#ŌleloHawaii #WeAreMaunaKea #BlountReports #SenatorGeorgeBacon #HawaiianKingdom #LanguageIsLife #WaterIsLife #Knowledge #Expression #Hooikaika #Imua #KanakaMaoli #Polynesia #AoleTMT
Kahala Azuma Māui
copyright July 2019
