Prior to the arrival of missionaries, Hawaiians had no written language. Knowledge and information were passed down generation to generation orally and through applied learning methods where the learner committed to memory the skills and knowledge being passed on.
In 1820, upon the arrival of missionaries to Hawai'i's shores in Kona, Hawai'i, Liholiho (Kamehameha II) arranged an agreement that the first missionaries would teach the ali'i to read and write in order to set foot on Hawaiian soil. Within 14 years over 1,100 schools were established throughout the Hawaiian islands, the literacy rate was higher than 91%, and two newspapers were already printed.
The first newspaper, Ka Lama Hawai'i, was the first newspaper printed in Hawai'i. Ka Lama Hawai'i was printed out of Lahainaluna Seminary. It was a weekly four-page newspaper that was printed by the students who attended Lahainaluna. Ke Kumu Hawai'i soon followed later that year. More than 45 Hawaiian language newspapers were established, with the first English language newspaper appearing in 1856 titled "The Pacific Commercial Advertiser". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser later became the Honolulu Advertiser. The idea of printing newspapers started as a teaching tool to get students to read and write with Christian focused principals and academic topics.
Kingdom-era Hawaiian scholars, and others that contributed to documenting 'ikena o Hawai'i, are proving to be the voices from the past that will be heard. The efforts of these Hawaiian scholars and historians, along with the many Hawaiian writers that contributed to the volumes of Kingdom-era Hawaiian Newspapers as to the nature of Hawaiian worldviews and knowledge have preserved clues to the Hawaiian ways of life, culture, and traditions.
Samuel M. Kamakau, S.N. Hale'ole, David Malo, Z. Kaho'āli'i Keauokalani Kepelino, and John Papa Ī'ī are recognized Kingdom-era Hawaiian scholars that were formally educated in both Hawaiian and foreign academics, and worked diligently to document the historical knowledge and traditions of the people of Hawai'i. Let's take a look at these renowned Hawaiian scholars and their contributions to maintaining the valuable treasures of knowledge in Hawaiian culture and traditions.
Kamakau is touted as one of the most
prolific writers of the Kingdom-era scholars. He attended Lahainaluna Seminary,
was a founding member of the Hawaiian Historical Society, wrote articles
featured in two Hawaiian Newspapers, and served as a judge and legislator.
Kamakau is believed to have written more than 300 newspaper articles
documenting Hawaiian traditions and knowledge. He wrote a series of articles
for the Hawaiian newspaper, Ke Au Okoa, from 1868 to 1870. These compiled
articles are organized into three series.
• Ka Po'e Kahiko: The People of Old.
These articles document the spiritual traditions and beliefs of the Hawaiian
people.
• Works of the People of Old. These
articles shed light to the material culture of the Hawaiian People.
• Tales and Traditions of the People
of Old. These articles explore the stories of mischief, origin, genealogy, and
oral histories of various sites.
Other works of S. M. Kamakau can be
found in:
• Ruling Chiefs of Hawai'i
• I Ka Wa o Kamehameha
• Fornander's, The Polynesian Race
(Contributor)
REFERENCES
'Aha Pūnana Leo. (2017). A timeline of revitalization. Retrieved from 'Aha Pūnana Leo: www.ahapunanaleo.org/index.php?about/a_timeline_of_revitalization/
Hawai'i Department of Education. (2003). Inventory of Records of the Department of Education. Honolulu: State of Hawai'i, Department of Education
Hawai'i Statewide Assessment Program (2017, October 16). Kaiapuni Assessment of Educational Outcomes (KA'EO). Retrieved from Hawai'i Statewide Assessment Program Portal: https://alohahsap.org/HSA/other/#section1.
Hawaiian Historical Society. (1904). Eleventh Annual Report of the Hawaiian Historical Society. Honolulu: Gazette.
Solomon, A. L. (1980). Cross-Cultural Conflicts Between Public Education and Traditional Hawaiian Values.
Townsend, H.S. (1899). Reort of the Minister of Public Instruction To the President of the Republic of Hawai'i. Honolulu: Hawaii Gazette Company Print.
Westervelt, W.D. (1912). The First Twenty Years of Education in the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu: Paradise of the Pacific.
