Larry Kimura - UH Alumni Profile

UH Foundation

24 Jan 201703:13

Summary

TLDRLarry Lindsay Kimura, an assistant professor at Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language, shares his journey with Hawaiian language and culture. He reflects on his early education, noting the lack of Hawaiian studies at universities in 1964. Despite studying anthropology, he remained passionate about reviving the Hawaiian language. Kimura emphasizes the importance of immersion programs and broader cultural understanding to help learners connect deeply with their Hawaiian identity, aiming to create more fluent speakers and strengthen the language's presence in modern life.

Takeaways

🧑‍🏫 Lindsay Kimura is an assistant professor at Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language.
🏫 He attended this campus when it was a two-year institution and later transferred to Manoa to complete his degree.
🌺 His passion was in Hawaiian language and culture, but back in 1964, no university offered formal programs in this area.
🎓 He earned a degree in anthropology, as the closest option to Hawaiian studies at the time.
🏠 Kimura is from Waimea, South Kohala, and would visit his native-speaking Hawaiian grandmother on weekends to enhance his language skills.
📚 He formally started learning Hawaiian at the University of Manoa because the Hilo campus did not offer Hawaiian language courses at the time.
📖 Traditional Hawaiian language instruction involved reading old Hawaiian literary stories and translating them into English.
🎓 After helping establish Hawaiian language programs, he became a student of the programs himself.
👨‍🏫 The college supports second-language learners in becoming more fluent, with a growing number of new native speakers from immersion programs.
🌍 The focus of the Hawaiian language program is not just on language, but also on connecting deeper meanings to identity and culture, as reflected in the mission statement: 'O ka olelo ke kaao ka mauli.'

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the transcript?
-The speaker is Larry Lindsay Kimura, an assistant professor at Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language.
What was the speaker's educational background when they attended university?
-The speaker attended a two-year campus in Hilo, then transferred to Manoa, where they completed a degree in anthropology.
What was the speaker's primary interest in terms of academic focus?
-The speaker's primary interest was Hawaiian language and culture, although they pursued a degree in anthropology because there were no formal programs in Hawaiian language at that time.
Where is the speaker originally from?
-The speaker is originally from Waimea, South Kohala.
How did the speaker enhance their Hawaiian language skills outside of the classroom?
-The speaker honed their Hawaiian language skills through interactions with their grandmother, a native Hawaiian speaker, as well as with other relatives from the same generation.
Did the University of Hilo offer any courses in Hawaiian language when the speaker was a student?
-No, the University of Hilo did not offer any Hawaiian language and culture courses at that time. The speaker began their formal studies in Hawaiian language after transferring to Manoa.
How were Hawaiian language classes traditionally taught according to the speaker?
-Hawaiian language classes were traditionally taught by reading old Hawaiian writings, particularly literary stories, and translating them into English.
How did the speaker describe their academic journey in Hawaiian language programs?
-The speaker described their academic journey as being somewhat 'backward' because they pursued Hawaiian language studies after their initial degree, once Hawaiian programs were formally established.
What role does the speaker believe Hawaiian language programs play in the community?
-The speaker believes that Hawaiian language programs play a major role in supporting more fluent speakers, especially second-language learners, and helping to create new native speakers through immersion programs.
What is the broader mission of Hawaiian language education according to the speaker?
-The broader mission of Hawaiian language education is to make students fluent not only in using the language but also in understanding its deeper meanings and how it connects to identity, as expressed by the mission statement 'O ka 'ōlelo ke ka'ao ka mauli' ('Language binds us to our identity').

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Introduction and Personal Background

Larry Lindsay Kimura introduces himself as an assistant professor at Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language. He shares his educational journey, noting that when he attended, it was a two-year campus, and students typically transferred to the University of Manoa to complete their degrees. Larry knew early on that he wanted to pursue Hawaiian language and culture, though no university offered programs focused on these subjects at the time. He ended up studying linguistics and anthropology, with a desire to help revive the Hawaiian language.

🏞️ Connection to Hawaiian Roots and Early Education

Larry reflects on his personal connection to his Hawaiian heritage, mentioning his upbringing in Waimea, South Kohala. While attending the Hilo campus, he would go home on weekends to spend time with his Hawaiian-speaking grandmother and other elder family members. This time allowed him to deepen his knowledge of Hawaiian language and culture. Formal education in Hawaiian language, however, didn’t begin until he transferred to the University of Manoa, as the Hilo campus offered no such programs at the time.

📚 Traditional Hawaiian Language Learning Methods

Larry discusses his experience learning Hawaiian in a classroom setting, focusing on the traditional method of reading and translating old Hawaiian literary works. He emphasizes the importance of this approach in understanding both the language and the culture. Although he initially pursued his degrees in anthropology and linguistics, he eventually became a student in the programs he helped establish for Hawaiian language, describing his academic journey as having started 'backward.'

🌱 Role of Hawaiian Language Programs in Revitalization

Larry highlights the critical role that Hawaiian language programs at universities, like his, play in producing fluent speakers, especially among second language learners. He points out that immersion programs are now contributing to a new generation of native speakers. The broader goal of these programs is not just language learning but fostering a deep understanding of cultural and linguistic meanings, which are essential to preserving Hawaiian identity. The college’s mission statement, 'O ka olelo ke kaao ka mauli,' encapsulates this purpose: language connects people to their identity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hawaiian language

The Hawaiian language is the indigenous language of Hawaii, central to the video’s theme of cultural preservation and education. The speaker, Lindsay Kimura, is dedicated to bringing the Hawaiian language back to life, reflecting the efforts of native speakers and learners to keep the language thriving through formal education and immersion programs.

💡Hawaiian culture

Hawaiian culture encompasses the traditions, practices, and values of native Hawaiians. In the video, Kimura discusses his deep connection to Hawaiian culture, which he developed through his family and educational experiences, especially with his grandmother and through university studies.

💡Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College

This is the college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo dedicated to the Hawaiian language and culture. Kimura works here as an assistant professor and highlights the institution’s role in supporting the revitalization of the Hawaiian language and culture through educational programs.

💡Manoa

Manoa refers to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where Kimura completed his studies. At the time, Hilo did not offer Hawaiian language programs, so he had to transfer to Manoa to continue his education, demonstrating the development of Hawaiian language programs over time.

💡Immersion programs

Immersion programs are educational setups where students are taught entirely in the Hawaiian language, helping to create new generations of native speakers. Kimura mentions these programs as a critical factor in ensuring the survival of the Hawaiian language, especially for second-language learners.

💡Native speakers

Native speakers are individuals who grow up speaking a language as their first language. Kimura refers to his grandmother, a native speaker of Hawaiian, as a major influence in his language learning journey. The video emphasizes the importance of native speakers in passing down language and cultural knowledge.

💡Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of human societies, cultures, and their development. Kimura earned a degree in anthropology because Hawaiian language studies were not available in 1964. This discipline provided him with a foundation for understanding Hawaiian culture and language within a broader academic context.

💡Literary stories

Literary stories refer to the traditional Hawaiian narratives and written works that have been documented over time. Kimura discusses how his learning of Hawaiian language involved translating these stories into English, which provided insights into the deeper meanings and cultural connections embedded in the language.

💡Fluency

Fluency, in the context of the video, refers to the ability to speak Hawaiian proficiently. Kimura explains how the educational programs aim to make students fluent, not just in using the language, but also in understanding its deeper cultural meanings. Fluency is a goal of both first-language learners and second-language learners through immersion and traditional classroom settings.

💡O ka olelo ke kaao ka mauli

This Hawaiian phrase, which means 'Language binds us to our identity,' is part of the college’s mission statement. It encapsulates the video’s central theme of the critical role language plays in connecting people to their cultural heritage and identity, reflecting the deeper mission of Hawaiian language revitalization.

Highlights

Larry Lindsay Kimura, an assistant professor at Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language, discusses his background and role in the resurgence of the Hawaiian language.

Kimura reflects on his time as a student at Hilo when it was a two-year campus, before continuing his studies at Manoa.

He was passionate about studying Hawaiian language and culture, but no formal studies were offered in these subjects at universities in 1964.

Kimura initially pursued a degree in anthropology since Hawaiian language programs were unavailable at the time.

He expresses his desire to help revive the Hawaiian language and his lifelong commitment to this goal.

Kimura is originally from Waimea, South Kohala, and recalls weekends spent honing his Hawaiian language skills with his grandmother, a native speaker.

Although Hilo didn’t offer Hawaiian language classes at the time, Kimura began formal Hawaiian language studies at Manoa.

He describes the traditional classroom experience of studying Hawaiian, which involved reading and translating old Hawaiian writings, particularly literary stories.

Kimura mentions that his academic journey felt backward, as formal Hawaiian language degrees didn’t exist until later when they were established by their efforts.

Programs like those at Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani support the development of more fluent Hawaiian speakers, particularly second-language learners.

With the advent of Hawaiian language immersion programs, a new generation of native speakers has emerged.

Kimura emphasizes the importance of expanding the focus beyond language and culture to address broader life topics in order to help the language thrive.

He explains that the goal is not just fluency in the language but also a deep understanding of how meanings are expressed and interconnected.

Kimura highlights the significance of their mission statement: 'O ka olelo ke kaao ka mauli' (Language binds us to our identity).

He stresses the crucial role that educational programs and colleges play in maintaining and revitalizing the Hawaiian language.