Virtual Classroom Offerings

Live Weekly Classes Via Zoom

Join Kaliko Beamer-Trapp for an 8-week Zoom-based online session focusing on Hawaiian language and culture in ʻŌlelo Online’s “Virtual Classroom”.

Page Index

1. Introduction
2. Eight-Week Sessions
3. Current and Upcoming Session Dates
4. Registration For Classes
5. Class Sample Videos
6. Multiple Sections Per Class

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7. Class Schedule / Timetable
8. Time Zone Clocks
9. Time Zone Conversion Table

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10. How Classes Work
11. The Instructional Approach
12. Choose Your Level
13. Absolute Beginner Conversational Hawaiian CH1A
14. Beginner Level Conversational Hawaiian CH1B
15. Beginner Speakers Conversational Hawaiian CH2A
16. Beginner Speakers Conversational Hawaiian CH2B
17. Continuing Beginner Speakers CH3A and CH3B
18. Elementary Fluency CH4A and CH4B
19. Hoʻomaʻamaʻa Practice (Language Lab) classes
20. Papa Makua – Elementary Hawaiian for Parents and Family
21. Papa Mele – Hawaiian Song Analysis MH1

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22. No ka Poʻe ʻŌlelo
23. Learn More / Registration Link

Introduction

All classes are both fun and challenging! Kumu (instructor) Kaliko will lead you through the lessons in his typical lighthearted and fun-loving fashion, making sure you really enjoy learning Hawaiian language.

Classroom size is generally limited to 18 students, and registrations are taken on a first-come first-served basis. You attend your class once a week and each class is an hour long. Kumu Kaliko will email the class notes as well as a link to the video recordings of the class to you as soon as possible after your class is done each week.

There is always plenty to study on your own between classes, and if you find you have friends in class, then make a small study group and enjoy working on lessons together!

Eight-Week Session

A “Session” is a set of eight classes spanning a total of eight weeks. Kumu Kaliko teaches five Sessions per year. The price per class for the entire eight-week Session is $80.

Sessions run as follows: (1) January into March, (2) March into May, (3) May through July, (4) August into October, and (5) October through December. We usually take a two-week break between Sessions.

Current And Upcoming Session Dates

The current Session started Monday October 23rd and runs through Friday December 15, 2023. Registration is still open (see next paragraph); late registrants will receive all past class videos, notes, and other materials to catch up.

The upcoming Session will start on Monday, Jan 8th, 2024 and runs through Friday, March 1st, 2024. Registration will open in December 2023. Gift-giving of registrations is always available.

Registration For Classes

The Session Registration Form is available for the courses shown in the Class Schedule (see below). You can use the online form to sign up any time, even while the Session is in progress.

Class Sample Videos

If you would like to see an example of a class from each level, please visit the ʻŌlelo Online Class Sampler Page. You can also use the Sampler Page to help you assess the best level for you to attend, should you need help deciding.

All of the Conversational Hawaiian and Mele classes are taught by kumu Kaliko Beamer-Trapp. The “Hoʻomaʻamaʻa” practice classes on Fridays are taught by kumu Kawehi Zoller. We hope that kumu Kailin Kim, who is busy as a bee at the moment, will be able to return at some point in the future.

Multiple Sections Per Class

Most classes have multiple “Sections” to help keep class sizes small and to allow for various options in the time of class in your time zone. We cover the same general content in each Section and you will usually receive class videos and notes from *all* Sections of your class each week.

You can move freely between Sections. If you have a scheduling conflict any particular week, you may attend a different Section than the one you actually signed up for.

Class Schedule / Timetable

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How Classes Work

Each class is one hour in length. Class size is generally limited to 18 students unless otherwise stated in the class description (above).

No textbook is required for any of the courses; all materials will be provided by the instructor. Generally, the instructor’s screen is be recorded and the resulting video is made available to students as soon as possible following the class along with class notes and/or other materials.

Although not required, you are encouraged to use a vocabulary and/or phrase-builder app on your phone or tablet to learn vocabulary outside of class time. The one we suggest is the one kumu Kaliko worked on for uTalk, called uTalk Hawaiian. Please see our uTalk page for more information and for the discount code so that you get 30% off the lifetime license as part of kumu Kaliko’s “uTalk Hawaiian Classroom”!

The fee for any 8-week session is $80. This includes the weekly class notes and video recordings, member access to ʻŌlelo Online, as well as access to the ʻŌlelo Online Virtual Classroom Archive Library.

Virtual Classroom courses are held via Zoom and it is recommended that you use a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer with a screen at least 9.7″ in size – the larger the better. The Meeting ID and passcode will be provided before the first class starts and will remain the same throughout the session.

The Instructional Approach

Beginner classes in conversational Hawaiian language (CH1A, CH1B, CH2A, and CH2B) are taught through a combination of the grammar-based approach and the communicative approach, and emphasize skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking at the basic level. Instruction also incorporates lessons about, and discussion of, Hawaiian culture and history.

Fluency-level conversational Hawaiian language classes (CH3A, CH3B, CH4A, and CH4B) are taught increasingly in Hawaiian and rely on discussion of various topics to improve competency. We often use traditional literature or recordings of native speakers to improve every aspect of our Hawaiian language: cultural understandings, speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

The “Papa Hoʻomaʻamaʻa” practice classes (HM2, HM3, and HM4) are taught as much as possible in Hawaiian and rely on discussion of specific weekly topics to improve competency in areas such as working in the garden, taking care of children at home, going fishing, going shopping, camping, and so on.

Mele Hawaiʻi classes (MH1) focus on Hawaiian language as used in Hawaiian mele, or poetic compositions. Song, vocabulary, and grammatical analysis, as well as class discussion, allow for a deeper understanding and appreciation of Hawaiian language and Hawaiian music. The Hawaiian language lyrics, comments, and song example performances are sent to the students before class each week via email.

Choose Your Level

Level One A: Absolute Beginner Conversational Hawaiian (CH1A)

Have you been thinking about learning the Hawaiian language and been looking for a friendly absolute beginner class so you can start from scratch? Do you have children or grandchildren with whom you want to speak Hawaiian at home, or who are just starting out in Hawaiian immersion education? Or perhaps you want to learn the basics so you can improve your singing or your understanding of hula. Then choose this Level I Absolute Beginner course.

We cover all of the important building blocks needed to start reading and communicating in Hawaiian including:

• The Hawaiian alphabet and pronunciation
• Basic reading skills
• An overview of the “Pepeke” Hawaiian-language model used to describe phrase and sentence patterns
• The top four Pepeke phrase patterns
• Hawaiian pronouns (papani)
• Single-word modifiers (kāhulu memeʻa)
• Numbers (helu)
• Telling time on the hour
• Asking questions: what and how many?

Registration Page

Level One B: Beginner Conversational Hawaiian (CH1B)

If you already have taken CH1A or another introductory course in Hawaiian, or have done some study on your own including the topics shown above from the CH1A Absolute Beginner class, then you are welcome to join CH1B directly. CH1A students are encouraged to move into CH1B after their first eight week session.

As mentioned above, kumu Kaliko teaches using the “Pepeke” Hawaiian-language model, so you will need to know at least what «poʻo», «piko», and «ʻawe» are, as well as the four basic Pepeke: Pepeke Henua, Pepeke Painu ʻAʻano, Pepeke Painu Hamani/Hehele, and Pepeke ʻAike He. If you don’t know those things yet, it will be worth your time to go through the CH1A class just to get up to speed.

In CH1B, you will build on the basic foundation attained in CH1A, including the following topics:

• Refinement and practice of knowledge from CH1A
• Pepeke ʻAike ʻO (equational pattern)
• Using numbers both as kaʻi determiners and kāhulu modifiers
• The five basic ʻawe types (ʻawe henua, ʻawe hoa, ʻawe kāhea, ʻawe kuhilana, and ʻawe lauka)
• Telling time in more detail
• Adding Pepeke and parts of Pepeke together
• Saying that something is on top, underneath, in front, behind, etc. (iʻoahenua)
• Asking basic questions (what, how many, which, and yes/no questions)
• Tense markers (māka painu)
• Basic Hawaiian prosody (intonation, rhythm, etc)

Registration Page

Conversational Hawaiian for Parents and Family Members (CH1B-PM)

This class is designed especially for beginner-level parents or family members of Hawaiian “immersion” school students, especially those associated with Kūlaniākea in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu, Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, and Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu in Keaʻau, Puna, Hawaiʻi. Since Hawaiian immersion school students —also known as «kula kaiapuni» or «kula mauli ola» students— speak Hawaiian in school, it is important to take time out to improve your own understanding of, and ability to speak, Hawaiian language at home, so that you can communicate meaningfully with them and their friends through Hawaiian language in certain situations and settings.

As parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles who are trying to figure out how to talk to children about brushing teeth, getting dressed, doing chores, doing homework, working or playing around the house, and so on, you will probably be wondering what vocabulary to use and how to easily memorize some short sentences in order to be able to talk with your keiki. This class will get you going in the right direction; any level of experience from absolute beginner on up is fine. If you wish to be placed into a higher level class after the session starts, we can easily move you across to one of the other Conversational Hawaiian classes listed here.

Registration Page

Level Two A: Beginner Speaker Conversational Hawaiian (CH2A)

This is Conversational Hawaiian at the 2A level for beginner speakers who want to focus on refining the basics and adding some more depth to their knowledge, as well as the ability to understand and produce short- to medium-length utterances.

If you understand the basics shown above for CH1A and CH1B, then you are ready to join the CH2A class. In CH2A, you will learn much more Hawaiian language, including the following main areas of attention:

• Further refinement of knowledge from CH1A and CH1B
• Pepeke Nonoʻa He (“something has a something”)
• A-class and O-class possession
• Kāhulu Iʻoa and Kāhulu Nonoʻa modifiers
• More ʻawe types (ʻawe hiaʻo, ʻawe henua, level 2)
• Practice with use of iʻoahenua
• Telling time down to the second
• Basic Hawaiian directionals (hunekuhi)
• Pepeke Makua, Pepeke Keiki (dependent clauses)
• Conditionals (if…then)
• Conjunctions (kuʻina pepeke)
• Confirming and asking for confirmation
• Saying “when” and “whenever” something happens
• When something is obtained (loaʻa)
• When something goes into the possession of another (lilo 1)
• When something becomes something (lilo 2)
• When something is understood (maopopo)
• More in-depth use of Hawaiian prosody

In CH2A, kumu Kaliko will also get your ear used to listening to short phrases in Hawaiian, and get your tongue untied so you can easily produce short sentences reliably and intelligibly. (CH2A is taught using Hawaiian as the language of instruction about 5% of the time.)

Registration Page

Level Two B: Beginner Speaker Conversational Hawaiian (CH2B)

The second step in Level Two is “CH2B” which is perfect for students who have been through CH2A a few times and are wanting to string together sentences into paragraph-length discourse, both written and spoken. CH2B students are also exposed further to traditional Hawaiian literature and audio recordings of Hawaiian language speakers. (CH2B is taught using Hawaiian as the language of instruction about 10% of the time.)

CH2B continues on from CH2A with attention paid to attaining knowledge in the following areas, among others:

• Further refinement of knowledge from CH1A through CH2A
• Short storytelling and narratives
• Pepeke Nonoʻa No/Na (something belongs to something)
• One more ʻawe type (ʻawe nonoʻa)
• Kuʻa joining particles for Pepeke Makua, Pepeke Keiki (e, i)
• Iʻoahenua in both ʻawe henua and ʻawe lauka
• Compressed and uncompressed possessives
• Talking about sequences of actions and things
• Times past and future
• Indeed, however, perhaps (nō, naʻe, paha)
• Māka Painu tense markers for storytelling and narratives
• Asking for something or a quantity of something using «i»
• Use of «hoʻo» to make transitive actions
• Using «poʻe», «wahi», and «nui» as kaʻi

Registration Page

Level Three: Continuing Beginner Speakers (CH3A, CH3B)

For those of you who can already understand spoken and written Hawaiian when used in simple and familiar contexts, in short sentences, and spoken with slow cadence, then Level Three Continuing Beginner Speakers will be your level. Take these classes after you have been in Level Two (or equivalent) for several sessions. This class focuses on allowing you to understand and produce more fluid and lengthy sentences.

Registration Page

As with Level Two, there are also two steps in the Level Three classes. You can take “CH3A” after you feel you have learned enough vocabulary and grammar in CH2B and you are able to understand spoken Hawaiian at a slow pace and when repeated. CH3A is taught using Hawaiian as the language of instruction about 25% of the time.

Take the “CH3B” class after you feel you have learned enough in CH3A to be able to take the next steps in your journey. CH3B is taught using Hawaiian as the language of instruction about 50% of the time.

Level Four: Elementary Fluency (CH4A, CH4B)

For those students who have taken Level Three classes (or equivalent) several times, it’s time to move into the Level Four CH4A Elementary Fluency class. This class builds your abilities towards being a fluent reader, writer, and speaker of Hawaiian in increasingly complex contexts. Class is taught using Hawaiian as the language of instruction about 85% of the time. The Level Four CH4B Beginner Conversational Speakers class is taught entirely in Hawaiian.

Registration Page

HM Hoʻomaʻamaʻa Practice Classes (Language Labs)

This is a great opportunity for you to practice your Hawaiian in various contexts in an easy-going and fun “immersion” atmosphere. Select the class at your ability level or higher: “HM1” is for CH1B-level students; “HM2” is for all second-level students; “HM3” is for all third-level students; and “HM4” is for all fourth-level students — note however that not all HM classes are offered each eight-week Session.

Each week you will learn new vocabulary and receive the class video and notes to prompt post-class practice and discussion with friends. Instruction and conversation is targeted at 100% in Hawaiian for HM2 through HM4. Class sizes for the Hoʻomaʻamaʻa classes are optimized at 8-10 students per class so that everyone has a chance to speak.

Registration Page

Mele Hawaiʻi: Hawaiian Song Language Analysis (MH1)

Do you love Hawaiian music and/or hula and wonder what the songs actually mean and how they relate to movement? Do you want to get past simply looking up individual words in a dictionary and then trying to figure out by yourself how they are all working together? This course will help you understand how words are woven together to create meaning in phrases and verses. Kumu Kaliko will guide you, line-by-line, through each of the mele and teach the techniques you can use on your own with any other song. You will learn vocabulary, basic Hawaiian grammar, and delve into the kaona, or layers of meaning, in Hawaiian poetic compositions. To learn more about this course, read the full course description.

Registration Page

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No Ka Poʻe ʻŌlelo

Inā e hiki maoli iā ʻoe ke ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi i kēia manawa, a e ake ana e hoʻoponopono i nā hemahema maʻamau e lohe ʻia nei ma waena o ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina; inā paha e ake ana e kūkākūkā no nā pilinaʻōlelo ʻano pohihihi e huikau ai; inā hoʻi paha ʻoe e ʻimi ana i ka «lawenaleo» (ke kiʻinaleo, ka wikileo, ka panaleo, ka nuileo, a me ke ʻanoleo) o nā kūpuna, a laila ʻo ka papa CH4B Beginner Conversational Speakers kāu papa e komo ai. Aʻo ʻia ka papa holoʻokoʻa ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

Paena Kāinoa

Learn More & Registration

We look forward to having you in a future class. You can register for any class on the Registration Page. If you would like to find out a little more about your head instructor, Kaliko Beamer-Trapp, please see the About page here on ʻŌlelo Online. Aloha!

Go To Top / Rev. 2023-09-29