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Admission Guide: Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization, PhD

Guide to Completing the Application for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

Doctorate in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization

Entry Term: Fall 2024

Priority deadline for receipt of all application materials: December 1st, 2023

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Program Description

Application checklist, application process, admission criteria, transfer of credits, graduation requirements, for more information, please contact.

The Ph.D. in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization engages candidates in rigorous research in linguistics, language planning, culture, and education that enhances leadership capacity to strengthen language and cultural vibrancy within their communities.

All students in the doctoral program are required to speak an indigenous language - their “language of focus” - and further develop their knowledge of that language in courses that explore the similarities and differences among such languages. In addition, students choose two specializations from among the four systematic fields offered in the program, a) Indigenous Language and Culture Education, b) Indigenous Language and Culture in Society, c) Language Planning, and d) Hawaiian Language and Culture. Thus, students who focus on a non-Hawaiian indigenous language will choose two specializations from areas a), b), and c); students who focus on Hawaiian language may choose among all four areas. A number of possible paths from other universities lead into the doctoral program, including the master’s in Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Languages (including English), and Linguistics.

Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelilkōlani is widely recognized as the leader in indigenous language revitalization in the United States, and indeed the North Pacific Basin. The College is a key part of an overall state government response to long-standing Native Hawaiian political action seeking to provide the choice of education through Hawaiian language at all educational levels. With its preschool to grade 12 laboratory schools (Nā Kula Mauli Ola), KHʻUOK forms a complete P-20 educational system. As such, the College serves as a focal point for the State’s efforts to revitalize the Hawaiian language through teacher training, undergraduate and graduate study of Hawaiian, community outreach, research and testing, use of technology, national and international cooperation, and the development of liberal education in Hawaiian for future generations of Hawaiian speakers.

The mission of the College is to assure the revitalization and continued advancement and growth of the Hawaiian language and mauli ola Hawaiʻi. A thriving Hawaiian language is the means through which the mauli ola Hawaiʻi will once again become commonplace in both traditional and contemporary contexts in Hawaiʻi. The College joins with other Indigenous peoples in the revitalization of their own languages and cultures. Our collective efforts will ensure the furthering of local, national and international initiatives toward establishing language and cultural vibrancy throughout the world.

The Ph.D. in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization (PHD HILCR) has a unique status within the University of Hawaiʻi system - it is the first doctorate in a Hawaiian Studies field and the first doctorate in the world specific to the growing field of Indigenous language and culture revitalization. The program began with provisional status in 2006 with Hawaiian and other Indigenous candidates and was approved as an established program in 2015.

All students in the doctoral program are required to speak an indigenous language - their “language of focus” - and further develop their knowledge of that language in courses that explore the similarities and differences among such languages.

• UH Hilo Graduate application form Online
• $50 Application fee paid via credit card when submitting your online application

Note: You do not need to wait to have all components of your application before submitting the application. You are encouraged to submit your application and $50 fee once you have decided to apply. You may return to the online application system to upload your documents and request your letters.

Required Documents to be Uploaded in the Documents Tab of Online Application

• academic objectives and research interests;
• experience in educational service to his or her indigenous language of focus;
• diversity experience with the contemporary status of an indigenous or threatened language and culture besides the student’s own indigenous language of focus. The social and political environment of this additional language should be different from that of the student’s language of focus.
• future plans regarding work to revitalize his or her indigenous language and culture.
• Sample of written work
• One Page Essay in language of focus AND English translation (of the essay - not the tape).

Required Documents to be Emailed to the College Directly

• Taped Speech

Email to Kuulei Kepaa: kuulei.kepaa@hawaii.edu

Note: Tape may be digitally recorded. Essay/translation need not be on same topic as taped speech.

Requested in the Recommendations Tab of the Online Application

• Once you request your letters in the electronic system, your letter writers will be sent an email and instructions on how to use the electronic letters of recommendation system.

Sent Directly to the UH Hilo Graduate Division

• Official transcripts sent directly from all non-UH system colleges or universities you have attended.
• Official transcripts from UH system institutions will be pulled via STAR.
• We recommend certified electronic transcripts sent directly from your institution to the UH Hilo Graduate Division- hilograd@hawaii.edu .
• Baccalaureate degree transcripts from international institutions must be submitted to an independent transcript evaluation service.
• Hard Copy transcripts should be mailed to: UH Hilo Graduate Division 200 W. Kawili Street COBE Building, Room 201 Hilo, HI 96720

For International Applicants

• Baccalaureate degree transcripts from international institutions must be submitted to an independent transcript evaluation service. More information can be found at International Graduate Student Information .
• Official college transcripts in the original language and official translations into English must be provided. To expedite your application, all graduate applicants with international transcripts are required to send the baccalaureate transcript for professional evaluation by one of the credential evaluation services listed on the International Graduate Student Information page.
• Only graduates of accredited universities will be considered for acceptance.
• International Graduate Student Supplemental Information Form/Confidential Financial Statement
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (non-native speakers of English; see Eligibility Criteria), UH Hilo (Code: 4869)

The priority application deadline is December 1. Applications received after the priority deadline will only be accepted on a space available basis.

All supporting documents must be uploaded to the UH Application system.

Applications that meet initial requirements will be forwarded to the selection committee for a comprehensive review and consideration for admission into the program. Admission decisions made by the committee will be forwarded to the UH Hilo Graduate Division which sends the final notification to the applicant.

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 grade point average in an approved field of study (e.g., Hawaiian Language and Literature, Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Languages, etc).
• Proficiency in and academic knowledge of the applicant’s indigenous language of focus, as demonstrated by a taped speech and written essay, with English translation. (The level of proficiency and academic knowledge required will depend on the status of the indigenous language, in terms of how endangered it is and how much linguistic description has been done.)
• A sample of written work (usually the master’s thesis).
• Course work of at least 6 credits in general linguistics, linguistic analysis, and socio-linguistics.
• Complete taped interview either in person or by telephone.
• Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which must focus on the applicant’s background in the language and culture of an indigenous people and service to that indigenous community.
• For second language speakers of English, passing scores on the TOEFL or other evidence of English fluency.

Up to 12 credit hours may be transferred from an accredited university (if not previously counted toward another degree). Requests for such transfer of credits must be made during the first semester enrolled. Only credit hours with a Grade of “B” or better are transferable. Transfer credits must have been completed within seven years preceding the date upon which the Ph.D. is to be conferred by UH Hilo.

Regardless of any previous graduate experience, a minimum of 24 credit hours must be taken at UH Hilo before a degree can be granted. A maximum of six credit hours earned under courses designated as "thesis" may be counted toward the Graduate Division's minimum residence requirement.

In cases where a graduate student wishes to take graduate coursework elsewhere for transfer credit during their tenure at UH Hilo, the course work must be pre-approved by the student’s primary academic advisor and graduate program chair. Petition for transfer of these credits must be completed within a semester of completion of course work.

Graduation from the program is based on the successful completion of the below requirements totaling 29-31 credits, with no grade lower than a “B” and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0:

• KIND 730 Rsch Meth Hwn Ind Lang Culture (3)
• KLAN 701 Semantic/Pragmatic Indig Lang (1)
• KLAN 702 Stylistics/Domains Indig Lang (1)
• KLAN 703 Semantics-Prag of Indig Langua (3)
• KLAN 704 Stylistics-Domain of Indig Lan (3)
• Language of focus is Hawaiian: Approved second language equivalent to the 101 level as taught at UH Hilo.
• Language of focus is other than Hawaiian: Hawaiian equivalent to the 101 level as taught at UH Hilo.
• KED 794 Special Topics in Subject Matter in Indigenous Language and Culture Education (3)
• KIND 731 Indig/Minority Autochthonous Lang (3)
• KIND 732 Lang Policy/Practice Endangered/Ind (3)
• KIND 733 Hawn and Indig Language Med Ed (3)
• KIND 794 Special Topics in Subject Matter in Indigenous Language and Culture In Society (3)
• KLIN 794 Special Topics in Subject Matter in Language Planning (3)
• KHAW 751 Ho‘oikaika ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (2)
• KHAW 794 Special Topics in Subject Matter in Hawaiian Language and Culture (3)
• KHWS 741 Classical Hwn Ed: Gen Hwn Cult (3)
• KHWS 794 Special Topics in Subject Matter in Hawaiian Language and Culture (3)

The amount of course work in the two areas of specialization will be determined upon admission to the program.

• Up to six semester credits (or equivalent) at another accredited university in courses pre-approved by the program chair and transfer the credits to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in place of any of the listed program courses.
• Completion of all graduate courses with a grade no lower than “B.”
• Successful completion of a comprehensive examination consisting of oral and/or written questions.
• Submission and approval of a portfolio which documents the student’s work to improve public opinion and/or government policy concerning the revitalization of the student’s language and culture of focus. The portfolio may include newspaper or periodical articles or oral presentations aimed at the student’s indigenous community or the larger public; it may include written material or oral testimony given at government forums concerned with indigenous language and culture revitalization.
• KIND 800 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1–6) (V) *minimum 6 credits; successful completion of a dissertation; and final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

For questions regarding the program requirements:

Kuʻulei” Kepaʻa Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani Phone: (808) 932-7730 Fax: (808) 932-7651 kuulei.kepaa@hawaii.edu

For questions regarding the application process:

Cheri Kelii-Marumoto UH Hilo Graduate Division Ph: (808) 932-7897 hilograd@hawaii.edu

University of Hawaii at Manoa Fully Funded PhD in Linguistics 

University of hawaii at manoa.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa, based in Honolulu, HI offers a fully funded PhD in Linguistics. The Ph.D. program provides comprehensive professional training for careers in research and teaching. Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate competence in one language other than their native language. The Department of Linguistics provides all PhD students with full support (a graduate assistantship that includes a stipend and a full tuition waiver) for eight semesters. Graduate Assistantships provide approximately $18,204 per year for PhD students. Students may apply for up to two additional semesters of Graduate Assistantship support on a competitive basis.

• Deadline: Sep 01, 2024 (Confirmed)*
• Work Experience: Any
• Location: North America
• Citizenship: Any
• Residency: United States

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• Department of Linguistics

Honolulu, HI

Department of Linguistics / Department of Linguistics is located in Honolulu, HI, in an urban setting.

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• University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Office of Graduate Education
• College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature

• 2002: Ph.D., UCLA, Applied Linguistics
• 1995: Ed.M., Harvard University
• 1994: B.A., UCLA, Linguistics

Educational Background

PhD: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Chinese Linguistics

M.A.: Peking University, Theoretical Linguistics

B.A.: Tianjin Normal University, Chinese Language and Literature

Research Areas

• Chinese linguistics
• Lexical semantics
• Cognitive linguistics
• Teaching pedagogy
• Technology in language teaching and learning.

Selected Bibliography

Wang, H., & Jiang, S. (in press, 2018). Chinese for Specific Purposes: A broader perspective. In C-R. Huang, Z. Jing-Schmidt, & B. Meisterernst (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of applied Chinese linguistics. Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge, Taylor & Francis.

Jiang, S. (2017). The semantics of Chinese classifiers and linguistic relativity. London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis. (216 pages).

Jiang, S. (2017). The impacts of theme-based language instruction: A case study of an advanced Chinese intensive program. Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages, 21, 167-208.

Jiang, S. (2014). Superior Chinese proficiency and global debate. China Review International, 21(3&4), 244-256. University of Hawai‘i Press.

Jiang, S. (2014). Blackboard Learn平台上初级汉语网上课程的实践与探索 [Practice and exploration of the Blackboard Learn platform in teaching Chinese online for beginners]. Journal of Technology and Chinese Language Teaching, 5(1), 57–74. http://www.tclt.us/journal/2014v5n1/jiang.pdf.

Jiang, S., Wang, H., & Tschudi, S. (2014). Intercultural learning on the Web: Reflections on practice. In D. M. Chun (Ed.), Cultura-inspired intercultural exchanges: Focus on Asian and Pacific languages (pp. 127–143). Honolulu, Hawai‘i: National Foreign Language Resource Center, University of Hawai‘i.

Jiang S. (2013). 现代汉语量词范畴在认知心理上的表现与语言相对论 [The cognitive and psychological performance of Chinese classifier categories and linguistic relativity]. In Y. Shen (Ed.), 走向当代前沿科学的现代汉语语法研究 [Towards contemporary advanced scientific studies of modern Chinese syntax] (pp. 144–157). Beijing: The Commercial Press.

Jiang, S. (2006). Defining the so-called ‘core vocabulary’: A case study of Chinese textbooks. Journal of Chinese Language and Computing, An International Journal of the Chinese & Oriental Languages Information Processing Society, 16(1), 63–71.

Jiang, S. (2002). Chinese word associations in English speaking learners’ vocabulary. Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association, 37(3), 55–72.

East Asian Languages & Literatures • 1890 East-West Road Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822 Moore Hall 382 ©2022 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa • 2500 Campus Road • Honolulu, HI 96822 • (808) 956-8111 The University of Hawaiʻi is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution

From hula to PhD: UH Hilo kumu shares ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi journey

• March 28, 2024

Born and raised on Maui, Kekoa Harman, an associate professor of Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo , recalls his ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) journey beginning in the seventh grade at his alma mater, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. Growing up, Harman learned many Hawaiian chants and songs, which propelled him to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi , to gain a better understanding.

“I was especially interested in hula,” Harman said. “[That] inspired me to learn the language further so that I could understand what I was chanting, what I was singing, and what I was dancing about.”

After high school, he continued Hawaiian language at then Maui Community College and earned an associate in arts degree. Hungry for more, Harman came to UH Hilo, which continues to be recognized for its crucial role in the revitalization and advancement of Hawaiian language. He would go on to secure a BA in Hawaiian studies and MA in Indigenous language and culture education and doctorate in philosophy in Hawaiian and Indigenous language and culture revitalization .

Much more than a degree

The Maui native now calls Keaʻau home and is thankful to be a kumu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at UH Hilo’s Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language. He recognizes teaching Hawaiʻi ’s mother tongue extends much farther than the Hilo campus.

“This is a large community when we talk about the Hawaiian language movement, when we look at the preschool all the way up to the college level right here in East Hawaiʻi . We are a part of something that’s much more than just a degree or a Hawaiian language course. We are part of a movement, part of a community,” Harman said.

Harman is UH Hilo’s representative for Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao , a program tasked to create activities in support of UH being a leader in Indigenous education across all 10 campuses across the UH system. Heʻs also a member of the Hanakahi Council —a campus-based group of faculty and staff who are Native Hawaiian or associated with Native Hawaiian programs. In this role, he hopes to promote Native Hawaiian culture and language on campus.

For more go to UH Hilo Stories .

—By Nāpua Iolana Bicoy

Related Posts:

• Kaua‘i-Niihau community celebrates Hawaiian Language Month
• UH Hilo ʻōlelo reviver drives ongoing growth of Hawaiian
• Socializing strictly in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi focus of UH…
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PhD candidate Camil Staps figured out what ‘out’ means

Words originally intended to indicate space, such as ‘out’, are also regularly used to indicate cause and effect. Why does this happen? And how does it work in other languages? PhD candidate Camil Staps decided to find out.

‘Space is very important to humans,’ explains Staps. ‘Based on evolution, we are designed in such a way that we need information about space to get around in the world. Because of the central place this concept occupies in our world of experience, I expected different language families to approach this in roughly the same way.’

Literally and figuratively

Staps is referring here to both the literal and the more figurative use of space. In the sentence: ‘Startled by the guests, the cat ran out of the room’, ‘out’ indicates that the cat leaves the room, while in ‘The cat ran away out of fear of the guests’ has a more figurative meaning. ‘You can see in this example that the use of ‘out’ has shifted from origin to cause,’ Staps explains.

A similar shift has also occurred for other words. ‘In many languages, ‘out’ is linked to cause, while words that indicate direction, such as ‘to’, are more likely to express effect,’ Staps explains.

Distance matters

Linguists have long expected this principle to hold true for almost all languages. To support this idea, Staps compared two language families: European languages and Hebrew, for which he used the Bible. ‘I discovered that grammatical words such as prepositions or demonstrative pronouns are indeed used in much the same way,’ he says. ‘I addition to space, they can also indicate causality, for example. Of course, this is still not enough to conclude that these words are used in the same way everywhere, but it does confirm our suspicion.’

This confirmation is further reinforced by the other parts of Staps' PhD thesis, in which he discusses speakers' assumptions about what the hearer already knows and power in social relations. In all these cases, distance appears to play an important role in language use, although there is endless room for discovery.

More precise elaboration

‘In any case, I am glad that this research has allowed me to bring cognitive linguistics a little closer to the rest of linguistics. The importance of space has long been emphasised in cognitive linguistics, but that work is often quite abstract, with pictures. I was able to elaborate the hypothesis more precisely.’

• linguistics