I ka ʻōlelo nō ke ola; in language there is life. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) carries the life and spirit of the Hawaiian people. It enables us to better understand our history and collective identity and helps us express ourselves through a Hawaiian world view.
Since 2013, February has been celebrated in Hawaiʻi as Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian language month, to acknowledge the progress made and encourage further efforts to renormalize ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. We are excited to release this print on the 10th anniversary of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to join in the celebration and do our part to spotlight ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in our community.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, like many other indigenous languages, was once at the brink of extinction due to population decline, colonization, and accompanying anti-Hawaiian policies and communal sentiment. For over 80 years, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi instruction and education was removed from schools and young Hawaiians were generally discouraged from learning the language. Even within our own families, our kūpuna (elders) were influenced to believe it best for their children to not be taught Hawaiian. As a result, forty years ago, surveys found there to be less than 50 ʻōpio (youth) fluent in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Thankfully, since then, new generations of Hawaiians have once again been taught and educated in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. The resurgence of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, in tandem with many other cultural practices, has come to be known as the Hawaiian Renaissance. Today, more than 26,000 individuals identify as Hawaiian language speakers and thousands of students are learning ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in public, charter, and private schools and universities across Hawaiʻi.
The effort to revitalize ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi began first at ʻAha Pūnana Leo by educating our youngest haumāna (students) in Hawaiian immersion preschools. As such, for this print, we decided it would be fitting to create a design featuring simple hua ʻōlelo (words) for keiki (children), including mahina (moon), lā (sun), ānuenue (rainbow), hōkū (star), moʻo (lizard), manu (bird), and pua (flower).
- Machine washable and quick drying
- Snap handle for easy storage in between all the fun
- Print inspired by our indigenous Hawaiian culture, language, and stories
- Our Play Mats are unique in style and print. Some mats feature two different prints on each side for two-in-one fun, or a different sized print on each side to provide versatility and choice! For our prints on the lighter side, rest easy knowing that the bottom of mat features a darker color/print so that you can enjoy all lifeʻs adventures without worrying about a mess!
Size:
- 4 ft x 4 ft (122 cm x 122 cm)
- Outer waterproof PUL layers made from recycled plastic for eco-friendly, worry-free cleanup
- Poly-fiber fill for a soft place to land
- Quilted for durability
Care Instructions
- To clean, simply machine wash. Hang dry or tumble dry on low
Kaleimamo Hawaiʻi, an ʻohana-owned business from Honolulu, brings Native Hawaiian culture to the forefront of sustainable parenting. Founded by Pōhai, Kaleimamo Hawaiʻi creates beautiful, reusable cloth diapers and accessories that celebrate Hawaiian heritage through vibrant, culturally inspired designs. Named after Pōhai’s daughter, “Kaleimamo” symbolizes a lei of yellow lehua blossoms and extends to all keiki, weaving connections between families worldwide in the spirit of protecting our honua (world) for future generations.
The journey began when Pōhai and her husband, ʻOlu, discovered the environmental impact of disposable diapers and sought a better way. Their commitment to eco-friendly diapering led them to cloth, and they soon found a passion for sharing this sustainable option with other families. By combining functionality with a deep respect for Hawaiian culture, Kaleimamo Hawaiʻi offers parents a meaningful, earth-conscious choice that also honors Hawaiian traditions and values.