Immersion programs a challenge for Kaua‘i schools

THE GARDEN ISLAND

Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series on Hawaiian immersion classes at three local schools.

In 1978, the State Constitution declared Hawaiian and English the two official languages of Hawai‘i, creating a bilingual state that, at times, proves difficult to maintain.

“The vision is a little ways off, but is not impossible,” said Aliholani Rogers, Hawaiian Language Immersion teacher at Kapa‘a Elementary School.

Rogers has been a teacher at Kapa‘a Elementary’s Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i O Kapa‘a for 14 of its 17 years in existence. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hawaiian language from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and was scheduled to do student teaching until the need for an immersion teacher was so great, she was allowed to do her student teaching while teaching full time.

But she says there are still not enough Hawaiian language teachers.

“We count our blessings anytime someone is interested,” Rogers said.

“Teacher recruitment is a big challenge,” said Paul Williams, resource teacher for the Department of Education’s Hawaiian Language Immersion program. There are three new Hawaiian language immersion teachers this year, one each at Kapa‘a Elementary, Kapa‘a Middle and Kapa‘a High schools

At KMS, Pua Rossi is teaching for the first time. She recently graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Hawaiian Language/Hawaiian Studies and Anthropology. She is in the process of getting a Master’s Degree in Hawaiian Studies.

Rossi said while studying at Hilo, she was used to hearing the Hawaiian language wherever she went, whether it was at Borders or the mall. At home on Kaua‘i, she doesn’t hear it spoken as often.

She said not many Hawaiian language teachers are coming to Kaua‘i. She said there are better job opportunities on O‘ahu or the Big Island where there are a few more immersion programs. UH-Hilo also offers a teaching program taught all in Hawaiian, which entices students to remain there.

Ka‘e‘e Calica has been with Hawaiian language immersion since Punana Leo, the Hawaiian Language Immersion pre-school, began 22 years ago. When the Hawaiian Language Immersion program opened at Kapa‘a Elementary School and Calica realized that there was a major teacher shortage, she moved her family to the Big Island so she could work on her Bachelor of Arts degrees in sociology and Hawaiian studies and her teaching certificate.

Calica has been the Hawaiian Language Immersion teacher at Kapa‘a High School since 2000.

“Hurray for us,” Calica said. They have another immersion teacher this year, Ahonui Ragsac, originally from Anahola.

“This is a good year for us,” said Rogers. Because of the efforts of their parent group, Na Leo Kako‘o o Kaua‘i, students from Kekaha to Hanama‘ulu have bus service to the Kapa‘a immersion programs. Transportation funding came from the Legislature and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Since Rogers started teaching, she saw the need for bus transportation. It was difficult for parents living in the Koloa, Lihu‘e and Puhi areas whose children attended the Punana Leo immersion pre-school program in Puhi to drive to Kapa‘a every day. Those committed parents who drove their children through the elementary grades would often get tired and not continue on to the middle school immersion program.

Now, with bus service, Rogers said she hopes to get all Punana Leo students to continue in Hawaiian language immersion.

“They are such a wonderful addition to our classroom,” she said.

Many students enter the immersion program as kindergartners without the language background.

“Punana Leo students who are fluent speakers already make learning a second language so much easier,” Rogers said.

• Cynthia Matsuoka is a freelance writer for The Garden Island and former principal of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School. can be reached by e-mail at aharju@kauaipubco.com.