Pukalani Superette is supporting Kamehameha Schools‘ students in their effort to advance Hawaiian cultural traditions and language through the use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi labels on many of its store products.
The Ola Nā Iwi Club on the Kamehameha School Maui Campus is dedicated to perpetuating Hawaiian culture and language; in Hawaiian, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi means Hawaiian language and, while it takes just one generation to lose a language, it takes three generations to recover it. Club members believe that the active use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi labels is one way to keep the Hawaiian language alive.
Ola Nā Iwi Club leader Kumu Kēhau Lucas was inspired to put Hawaiian language labels to use at the Pukalani Superette after seeing them used at a KTA store on the Island of Hawaiʻi.
“Mahalo nui to Pukalani Superette for allowing our haumāna this opportunity to spread ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi outside of the classroom walls,” said Kumu Lucas. “These labels allow ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to become a part of the linguistic landscape of the Upcountry community and provide a fun way to learn basic Hawaiian words.”
The labels, which were introduced at the Superette in December 2016, feature the Hawaiian word for the product on one line with the English translation below. Also appearing on the labels are QR codes, which when scanned with a smartphone, provide an audio recording of the correct pronunciation of the word and its usage in a sentence
“As a local business serving Upcountry Maui for over 61 years, I feel this is a good way for the community to learn what our products are called in Hawaiian and how to pronounce them,” said Pukalani Superette General Manager Jerry Masaki. “I found that I didnʻt know the Hawaiian name of many products, so it will be a good learning tool for all of us.”
Located in the heart of Pukalani, Pukalani Superette has been family owned and operated for more than 60 years. It offers a wide selection of grocery items, health food, take-out prepared foods and dozens of catered food dishes.
Photo courtesy Pukalanisuperette.com
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