The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo, best known
for our Language Nest Preschools, is the leading entity in Hawai‘i
and the United States for indigenous language revitalization. In the
past twenty years, the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo has moved the Hawaiian language
from a population with less than forty children speakers to one with
over 2,000 children speakers. ‘Aha Pūnana Leo is committed to use
of the Hawaiian language at all times—in ‘Aha Pūnana Leo
programs, from preschools to graduate school, and from canoe sailing
lessons to contemporary computerized offices. The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo
is an active partner in the community—both the Native Hawaiian
community and the broader multiracial community of Hawai‘i, fostering
academic, social and economic progress. The organization's reach expands
beyond the Hawaiian Islands to other indigenous communities, especially
other Native American communities, where the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo model
is assisting other peoples in their efforts to save their languages from
extinction. We remain committed and focused on our vision, E ola ka ‘ōlelo
Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian language shall live.
