Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health are advancing efforts to enrich ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) with new eldercare terms, blending cultural heritage with modern healthcare concepts to ensure the language's relevance for future generations.
Related UH News story: Free Hawaiian language resources help enhance responsible kūpuna care
Their work was recently highlighted in an article published in Genealogy , authored by PhD student Kepoʻo Keliʻipaʻakaua, program coordinator Shelley Muneoka, and principal investigator Kathryn Braun with the Thompson school's Hā Kūpuna, the National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders . Assisted by Kumu Kapili Lyon at the UH Department of Religions and Ancient Civilizations , the initiative aims to preserve and strengthen Native Hawaiian perspectives on aging while ensuring accessibility for future generations.
"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. "Most importantly, we see how much more remains to be learned."
Building on decades of efforts to revive ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, Hā Kūpuna spearheaded three major language projects:
- Glossary featuring 231 Hawaiian terms related to elderhood
- Collection of 109 Hawaiian proverbs and sayings about aging
- Hawaiian-language translation of the children's book on dementia, Pōmai and Her Papa
New words for modern medical concepts
Since ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi historically lacked specific terms for modern medical concepts such as "Alzheimer's 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.
Download the free resources from the Ha Kupuna website
Some of the new eldercare-related terms include:
- Alzheimer's Disease: Maʻi ʻAlekahaima
- Dementia: Kemenekia
- Geriatrician: Kauka Kilo Mākule
- Neurologist: Kauka Kilo Lolo
- Health Plan: Palapala Hoʻolālā Ola Pono
Expanding ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi.
"We are humbled to contribute to understanding elders through the wisdom of our ancestors," said Keliʻipaʻakaua."Through this initiative, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi continues to evolve, honoring the past while adapting to the needs of the present and future."
The glossary, proverb collection and translated book are accessible through Hā Kūpuna's website .
The post Revitalizing 'ōlelo Hawaiʻi for eldercare first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News .
