DESCRIPTION

The College of Hawaiian Language is a 36,000 square-foot classroom facility on the University of Hawai‘i Hilo campus. The programming for the building can be organized spatially into two wings – a faculty wing and a student wing – and connected by a covered ceremonial plaza at the entry level called the Piko.

The faculty wing houses the offices for the academic studies division chair, College director dean, professors, assistant professors, graduate student-lecturers and administrative support staff. The student wing includes the Performing Arts/Multi-purpose classrooms which can be combined to form a 200-seat auditorium, Distance Learning/Telecom classrooms equipped with permanent instructional AV systems, Technical Development and Data Center, library, computer lab, tutorial room and a student lounge.

Established in 1997, UH Hilo’s College of Hawaiian Language, Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani, was named in honor of Princess Ruth Ke‘elikōlani Keanolani, the 19th century high chiefess known as a strong advocate of the Hawaiian language and a defender of culture and tradition. The transference of knowledge is paramount to the survival of any culture.