Ola ka ‘Ōlelo ‘Ōiwi o ka ‘Āina: Kauanoe Kamanā

Ola ka ʻŌlelo ʻŌiwi o ka ʻĀina
Kaʻiwakīloumoku Hawaiian Cultural Center

2008 Kamehameha Schools Song Contest Preshow footage
Full-length interview
Featuring: Kauanoe Kamanā

“He mea nui i nā manawa a pau...ka noʻonoʻo i ka hoʻoholomua. ʻAʻole hiki ke ʻalu a noʻonoʻo, ua kō, lawa kēia. ʻAʻole hiki. No laila, ua ʻano maʻa mākou i ka ʻimi, ʻimi, ʻimi, a noke mau; ʻaʻole hāʻawipio. Inā puka ma kekahi mea, pau, ʻimi i kekahi mea e puka ai. Puka kēlā, ʻimi hou i kekahi mea. I koʻu manaʻo, he Hawaiʻi loa kēlā ʻano noʻonoʻo. Nā kūpuna o ka wā ma mua, me kēlā: ʻeleu, ʻaʻole noho wale a kali na kekahi e hele mai a hana i kaʻu hana.”

In this full-length interview conducted for the 2008 Kamehameha Schools Song Contest celebrating the revitalization of the Hawaiian language, Kauanoe Kamanā talks about the history of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement and reminds us to persevere, for the work is never done.