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Na Keiki 'Elima

By: William H. Wilson

The ?Aha Punana Leo, Inc. is a non-profit organization which was established in 1983 to serve the Hawaiian speaking community and focus on education through Hawaiian. Punana Leo preschools, the first Native American language immersion program in the United States, began the process of revitalizing Hawaiian in 1984 through full day programs conducted entirely in Hawaiian. Hawaiian had by then become nearly extinct as a result of a government ban in 1896 of all public education taught through Hawaiian. The language reappeared in the public schools in 1987 when the first Punana Leo graduates entered elementary schools. There are now plans for Hawaiian medium education through high school. The ?Aha Punana Leo provides materials, curriculum, teacher training, family programs, summer programs, and other services as well as the internationally known Punana Leo preschools....

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