Kali D. Fermantez, University of Hawaii, 48-463 Haupoa St., Kaneohe, HI 96744. fermante@hawaii.edu.

Post-colonial Cannibalism in Hawaii: Ni‘ihau Hawaiians and Educational Self Determination.

As part of the process of decolonization in Hawaii, a Hawaiian cultural renaissance has occurred with a growing movement towards education in the Hawaiian language. The majority of children involved in Hawaiian language education are non-native speakers who seek to speak Hawaiian. Debate has arisen within the last large community of native Hawaiian speakers, the Ni‘ihau community, over what kind of education would best serve their children. schism has centered on the necessity of education in the English language. The Hawaiian language education establishment has sought to determine for the Ni‘ihau people what their education should be. This paper discusses the implications of the indigenous Hawaiian language education establishment seeking to dominate other Hawaiian people. Ironically the methods and mentality of the Hawaiian language education establishment is strikingly similar to that of the colonizer.

Keyword: Hawaiian, indigenous geography, decolonization.