ABSTRACT
Since the 1980s, Hawaiian Language Medium Education (HLME) has become an academic option for families in Hawai‘i. This was a critical time, as second language speakers of Hawaiian were pioneering the reestablishment of first language Hawaiian-speaking babies in the home. HLME now includes infant toddler programs; language nest preschools; primary, secondary, post-secondary, and graduate education—collectively referred to as HLME from cradle to career. A common thread for children enrolled in Pūnana Leo (language nest preschools) is the Hakalama (Hawaiian syllable chart or syllabary). The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo (non-profit organization) revitalized this tradition and expanded from it using contemporary linguistics, cognitive development research, and the Kumu Honua Mauli Ola (KHMO)—a Hawaiian philosophy of education. The Hakalama methodology has proven highly effective and allows reading instruction to begin at age 3. The children’s knowledge of the Hakalama, print identification of the individual syllables, and decoding of strings of such syllables is the base from which strong emergent literacy develops by the end of preschool. This chapter describes the Hakalama practice with children ages 3 and 4 across the Pūnana Leo system, its contributions to early reading and writing for learners in HLME, and similarities and differences with English literacy instruction.
