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When Pacific explorer James Cook arrived on Hawaiian shores in 1778, there were an estimated 300,000-400,000 native speakers. According to 1990 U.S. Census statistics, less than 9,000 Hawaiians speak their indigenous tongue today. Why has there been such a drastic decline? Let's take a brief look at our 50th state's fascinating past to find the answer. The Hawaiian language, which is similar to Tahitian and Maori, is a young branch
in the Polynesian family tree. Until American missionaries created a 13-letter alphabet for the strictly oral language in the 1820s, petroglyphs and hula were the only ways native Hawaiians had to convey their history. The decline began in early 1800s when the island kingdom became an international hub for the booming fur and sandalwood trade, as well as the Pacific whaling industry. Seamen from far and wide brought alien germs and diseases like the common cold, chicken pox, and the measles to the isolated archipelago. With no natural resistance built to combat these ailments, the native Hawaiian population dwindled 90% from 300,000 to less than 34,000 in a single century. To further add to the language's
demise, after the U.S.-backed overthrow of Queen Liliu'okalani in 1893, the language was completely banned from being taught or spoken in society, under punishment of ostracism and beatings. As the number of pure Hawaiians diminished, and with Hawaiian banned from the schools, the language nearly died out. By the 1980s, there were reportedly fewer than 2,000 native speakers. Today, the state of Hawaii realizes the importance of resurrecting its native language. Much like other indigenous American peoples, Hawaiians are experiencing a rebirth of pride in their heritage and traditions. Hawaiian language immersion programs are offered throughout the islands,
and many independent hula schools continue to teach their "haumana" (students) the "olelo" (language) through dance and chant.
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