{"id":210954,"date":"2025-02-18T14:33:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=210954"},"modified":"2025-02-18T14:41:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:41:26","slug":"olelo-hawaii-for-eldercare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/18\/olelo-hawaii-for-eldercare\/","title":{"rendered":"Revitalizing \u02bb\u014dlelo Hawai\u02bbi for eldercare"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health<\/a> are advancing efforts to enrich ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span> (Hawaiian language) with new eldercare terms, blending cultural heritage with modern healthcare concepts to ensure the language\u2019s relevance for future generations. <\/p>\n

Related 糖心视频 News<\/em> story: Free Hawaiian language resources help enhance responsible k\u016bpuna care<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Their work was recently highlighted in an article published in Genealogy<\/em><\/a>, authored by PhD student Kepoʻo<\/span> Keliʻipaʻakaua,<\/span> program coordinator Shelley Muneoka, and principal investigator Kathryn Braun with the Thompson school\u2019s H\u0101 K\u016bpuna, the National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders<\/a>. Assisted by Kumu Kapili Lyon at the 糖心视频<\/abbr> Department of Religions and Ancient Civilizations<\/a>, the initiative aims to preserve and strengthen Native Hawaiian perspectives on aging while ensuring accessibility for future generations. <\/p>\n

“From our work so far, we have gained a lot of insights and learned a lot of terms and concepts that are perhaps new to us today, but were commonly understood in the past,” said Keliʻipaʻakaua<\/span>. “Most importantly, we see how much more remains to be learned.”<\/p>\n

Building on decades of efforts to revive ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span>, H\u0101 K\u016bpuna spearheaded three major language projects:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Glossary featuring 231 Hawaiian terms related to elderhood<\/li>\n
  • Collection of 109 Hawaiian proverbs and sayings about aging<\/li>\n
  • Hawaiian-language translation of the children\u2019s book on dementia, P\u014dmai and Her Papa<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    New words for modern medical concepts<\/h2>\n

    Since ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span> historically lacked specific terms for modern medical concepts such as “Alzheimer\u2019s disease” and “geriatrician,” the research team developed new words through recommended linguistic processes. These processes include combining existing Hawaiian words or adapting words from non-Polynesian languages to Hawaiian spelling.<\/p>\n

    Download the free resources from the Ha Kupuna website<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

    Some of the new eldercare-related terms include:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Alzheimer\u2019s Disease: Maʻi<\/span> ʻAlekahaima<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Dementia: Kemenekia<\/li>\n
    • Geriatrician: Kauka Kilo Mākule<\/li>\n
    • Neurologist: Kauka Kilo Lolo<\/li>\n
    • Health Plan: Palapala Hoʻolālā<\/span> Ola Pono<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Expanding ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span> in public health and eldercare strengthens cultural ties to aging while preserving Hawaiian values and traditions. By creating terms that align with the Hawaiian language and worldview, researchers make eldercare discussions more accessible in ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span>.<\/p>\n

      “We are humbled to contribute to understanding elders through the wisdom of our ancestors,” said Keliʻipaʻakaua<\/span>.“Through this initiative, ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span> continues to evolve, honoring the past while adapting to the needs of the present and future.”<\/p>\n

      The glossary, proverb collection and translated book are accessible through H\u0101 K\u016bpuna\u2019s website<\/a>. <\/p>\n