How a single law nearly silenced the native tongue of Hawaiʻi
For ninety-one years, speaking Hawaiian in public schools could lead to physical punishment. Once a widespread language with high literacy rates, the native tongue of the islands faced a systemic campaign of suppression that pushed it to the brink of extinction.
The decline of the Hawaiian language, or ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, was not a natural fading but a result of deliberate policy. Following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the Republic of Hawaii passed Act 57 in 1896. This law established English as the sole medium of instruction in both public and private schools. The consequences for children were severe: those caught speaking Hawaiian on playgrounds or in classrooms faced corporal punishment. Notable figures like Mary Kawena Pukui were subjected to even harsher discipline, including being denied holiday home visits and being forced to eat only bread and water.
This era of suppression coincided with a demographic shift. Between 1890 and 1910, the proportion of 'pure Hawaiian' students in schools plummeted from 56% to just 16.9%. As the population became more diverse due to an influx of foreign laborers, English—and the emerging Hawaiian Pidgin—became the necessary common tongue for daily communication. By 2001, native speakers represented less than 0.1% of the state's population.
Despite this, a revitalization movement began in the late 20th century. The establishment of Pūnana Leo, or 'language nests,' in 1984 created immersion preschools that brought elders into the classroom. While UNESCO still classifies the language as critically endangered, the movement has seen success; many early students have since graduated from college. Today, while English dominates six of the seven inhabited islands, the island of Niʻihau remains a unique stronghold where Hawaiian is the primary language of daily life.
Source: Hawaiian language
