Ola Ka ʻŌlelo: A Hawaiian Language Session On Language And Culture In Conservation - Part 2

Ancestral teachings tell us that language is an enabling factor of our ability to prosper. Like the ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani, language revitalization has become a way to demonstrate strength and resilience. In this, the 2019 UN Year of Indigenous Languages, the first-ever Hawaiian Language panel at the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference convened to celebrate Hawaiʻi's ancestral language and culture, to demonstrate their important role in conservation efforts, and to situate ancestral teachings in present-day conservation contexts. Panelists from various conservation groups across Hawaiʻi shared about their work and ways language and culture have guided and shaped their efforts. Through large group discussions, opportunities were created to share and discuss together with audience members experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations for future action.