Eō in the office

ʻAnoʻai,

He Poʻakahi kēia. ʻO kēia lā ka lā 2 Malaki 2009.

I had a humorous experience today. When busy working on the computer in the office, I attempt to tune out the ambient conversation. There are four of us in the same office, so many times there are phone conversations, or visitors conversing with my colleagues.

While working away, I did not notice my manager come into the office. He called out to me, "Liko!" I was startled a bit and immediately answered "Eō!"

I realized what I had done by the look on my manager's face and those of my colleagues. Thinking quickly, I told him that when startled, I revert to Hawaiian language. It was actually true. My colleague Cheri laughed just a bit and said, "Oh, I thought you said Yo!"

We all chuckled at that one. But it definitely was an unintentional Hawaiian language lesson for the office.

Eō!

Greetings in the Native Language

I recently heard my mother's new voice greeting for her home messaging unit which is mostly in Hawaiian. It begins, "Greetings in the native language, translation to follow." 

That initial sentence cracked me up! But it also made me proud that she is doing her small part to perpetuate 'ōlelo Hawaiʻi. Mom asked me some weeks earlier to provide her with a greeting that would be played for those leaving her a message. I happily obliged and she did a great job!

However, she is somewhat disappointed that she cannot attend my language classes--yet. She no longer drives, in part because of her health but mainly because I am using her car. It is a logistical challenge for me to drive to Fremont, pick her up, teach in South City, then take her home, then head home to Santa Rosa.
(According to Google Maps 249 mi – about 4 hours 25 mins)

I hope to have something worked out soon.

Until then, "Greetings in the native language, translation to follow."

E nā hoa ē, aloha mai kākou!
Dear friends, greetings to us all!

Teaching Hawaiian Online

ʻAnoʻai kākou,

Being able to teach ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is an absolute blessing. I am so grateful to Kumu Hula Kāwika Alfiche for allowing me the opportunity to teach at the Kaululehua Hawaiian Cultural Center in South San Francisco. I am doubly blessed because I also teach for the Aʻo Makua Program, an adult enrichment distance learning program of Hawaiian culture and language. Aʻo Makua is an outreach component of Kamehameha Schools that offers an outstanding amount of short courses (3-4 weeks).

I recently taught the third of three Hawaiian language courses, Kuʻu Wahi Noho. This course focuses primarily on the pepeke henua or locational pattern. I will be facilitating the same course again from April 2-30, 2009. The courses are inexpensive compared to the amount of quality material that is presented.

I will be encouraging my face-to-face students to enroll since I do not teach (read cannot teach) both at the same time. It is also providence that I will be teaching that particular pattern soon in the classroom which can be reinforced by the online course.

From the website about Kuʻu Wahi Noho:

7. ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i: Ku‘u Wahi Noho

4 weeks
Cost: $25.00
Additional: USB Headset with microphone (e.g. Logitech USB 250 or similar)

• “Ku‘u Wahi Noho ” – Where I live


• The Ku‘u Wahi Noho papa ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i or Hawaiian language course will focus on the area that you live in.  You will learn sentence patterns and vocabulary that will help you to express your location and the location of special places in your home town.  Learn how to guide someone to your local post-office or to your favorite restaurant.  Course activities will include practice exercises, games, and interactive activities to help you strengthen your language base.

The class is from April 2-30, 2009 with registration closing on March 15, 2009.

Me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo,
Liko

Aloha in the Workplace

ʻAnoʻai kākou,

Today I remarked how a little aloha in the workplace goes a long way. When moving back to the SF Bay Area after living in Hilo for almost ten years, some Hawaiʻi customs were difficult to change. Especially at my new job!

I have to dress professionally everyday, wearing long pants and shoes to work. While in Hilo I could occasionally wear shorts and slippahs-- okay, perhaps more than occasionally, needing to dress up only when the situation deemed it necessary. Sure, my new position has a high degree of visibility, but changing my customary wardrobe style is also a survival tactic because it is so cold here. I still honor the "Aloha Friday" tradition though, proudly sporting my palaka aloha and humming the tune "It's Aloha Friday, No Work Til Monday."

However, one custom I would not and cannot change because it is such a part of me now is answering the phone or addressing email with "Aloha." At first I was a bit tentative, being a new hire and wanting to be regarded as a impeccable professional. When it was time to send out my first widely read email correspondence, my fingers knew what to type--"Aloha Everyone."

After hitting return I was waiting for some sort of negative reaction, even from my manager, but instead received several private emails saying, "I love that you wrote Aloha, it brightened up my day" or "Are you from Hawaiʻi? Me too!" I have met a few local people because of my greeting and also when folks find out where I am from, they try and connect me with their co-workers that are from Hawaiʻi or have Hawaiʻi connections.

Another more subtle reaction is when I receive an email greeting me with "Aloha Liko." How cool!

Just today I sent out an email to faculty campus-wide and received a response from a member of the English department who is from Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. Needless to say, we will be getting together soon to talk-story.

Aloha in the workplace can go a long way--in so many ways!

ʻO au iho nō,
Liko