Report on the Hawaiian oral language assessment (H-OLA) development project

Abstract

The vision statement of the HLIP is as follows: “The Hawaiian language and culture shall be the foundation upon which excellence is built, thereby determining, shaping and guiding the future for all of Hawai‘i’s people” (Office of Instructional Services, General Education Branch, 1994). One of the major goals of the program is to develop a high level of proficiency in comprehending and communicating in the Hawaiian language. This means that Hawaiian needs to be revitalized to the point where it is a thriving language and can be used in any context of life. If this is the purpose of the program, then it is crucial to assess and evaluate the language development of students on a formal basis. Since no systematic study has taken place in almost 20 years, this study proposes to determine the language proficiency levels of students in the early elementary grades. A comprehensive approach will be taken to assess seven proficiency domains: communicative skill, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, fluency, language steadfastness, as well as cultural and linguistic authenticity.