Teaching Gagana To A New Generation
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Learning is all about growth, and for Le Fetuao Samoan Language (gagana) School, slow and steady is the way to go.
Le Fetuao opened its doors in October 2008 with approximately 25 students and a handful of volunteer educators. They would hold early morning sessions at the house of Salt Lake Methodist Church Rev. Nu’utele Vaeena, who is now executive director of the a’oga (school).
They moved a few months later into their current “school house” at Island Family Christian Church (IFCC), a space referred by Papali’itele Jack Thompson & Cha Thompson who are members of IFCC. Le Fetuao is part of Samoa Methodist Churches in Hawaii headed by Rev. Faulalo Leti and Fialelei Leti. And though the school was funded by the Hawaii People’s Fund and Hawaii Community Foundation for its first year, it is now in the process of gaining its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation.
“Right now, the school has no funding, but it is still going strong because of the community support and our volunteers,” says Elisapeta Tu’upo-Alaimaleata, director and founder of Le Fetuao. “We don’t charge, it’s a free school. But that doesn’t stop parents or church members from coming in and donating school supplies.”
Among those she credits for their time spent building Le Fetuao from the ground up are Jack and Cha Thompson, Island Family Christian Church, Dr. John Mayer and the University of Hawaii Samoan Language and Culture program, MAJ (Ret) Tauapa’i Mika Laupola plus many, many others.
“I was teaching when (preschool teacher Aitulagi Peto) came crying, saying that this is something she wanted to have happen here in Hawaii, and now she finally found a place where she could use her skills,” says Tu’upo-Alaimaleata. “Even my mother - her name is Fetuao (Asiata-Tu’upo) - she taught Samoan language in public schools in American Samoa for more than 30 years, and she’s committed to come help us. I’m so happy to have our Samoan ladies to help me teach the language to the children.”
Every Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m., the volunteers share their knowledge with students from a wide range of ages. In the preschool class, for example, tamaiti (children) as young as 3 learn their colors - mumu (red), samasama (yellow), lanu-moana (blue), viole (purple) - and numbers - tasi (one), lua (two), tolu (three), fa (four) - to the tune of songs, picture cards and dances that reinforce the lessons. Matua (parents) are welcome to sit, not only to learn a bit of Samoan themselves, but also to keep the learning going once they get home.
“These are the types of skills that we want to nurture; we want to ensure that we pass it on to younger generations,” Tu’upo-Alaimaleata says.
“It’s good for the kids to get to interact with other kids from around the island,” adds Sulia Noga, whose son is enrolled in one of the older classes. “And I learn, too! It’s helpful for me, especially when they go back home.”
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The most important lesson students take with them is how to respect their heritage and their elders, a trait Theresa Hunkin says is something she finds is easily lost when Samoans move off island.
“We kind of lose the fa’a Samoa, which means the spirituality of the culture,” says Hunkin, who moved with her family to Hawaii when she was 6 years old. “When I came here (to Le Fetuao), this is what I was taught when I was in Samoa, the real simple things that she (Tu’upo-Alaimaleata) teaches.”
In addition to being very hands-on in its curriculum, Le Fetuao utilizes the Actual Community Empowerment reading program and has a strong partnership with the UH Samoan Language and Culture Program and Creating Futures program ,as well as local businesses, many of which they visit on monthly field trips.
“Every month we try to break the four walls of this sanctuary and go outside, get the kids outside to get them exposed to the environment,” Tu’upo-Alaimaleata says. “We’re hoping to visit a plantation one day so they can learn how to grow the taro and grow the banana, and learn that this is how our Samoan people used to live - through the land, through the ocean.”
And though Le Fetuao is a means to teach Hawaii-born Samoan youths the language and culture of their ancestors, enrollment is open to anyone in the community.
“Here in Hawaii, there’s a lot of mixed people,” says Noga, who is a Filipina from Kalihi and whose husband was born and raised in Samoa. “It’s good for my son so he can learn the culture and learn the heritage and learn the language, so he can grow up and teach his children also and his friends.”
Adds Hunkin: “When I got into this program, and I see all different nationalities - not only Samoan, but it’s all mixed - and they’re really here to learn the language and the culture and the respect ... It was really amazing to me.”
School is currently out of session for winter break, but teachers are busy training and scheduling events for the upcoming year. Already slatted for 2010 is a workshop with guests Sosaiete A’oga Amata Samoa i Aotearoa from New Zealand. The group will speak on the History of A’oga Samoa in New Zealand and ‘Ie Toga Jan. 9 , followed by a presentation by Le Fetuao and entertainment by the school and UH clubs.
Also new next year, Samoan language classes are planned for parents of children attending Le Fetuao, which Tu’upo-Alaimaleata sees as just another step in the school’s growing process.
“Our dream is to have our own classroom, our own location ... you know, a place where we can build a Samoan fale (house) where the kids can learn Samoan in a Samoan setting,” she says.
“We envision a place that is more like a community center for all children. It’s evolving. It’s been a year, and right now we don’t have funding, but it’s just that I’m very passionate with the Samoan language and my own heritage.”
“We have lost our culture because we don’t have any schools where we can learn,” Hunkin adds. “But this experience wakes your brain up to get you back to the culture you came from. This is a good opportunity that we (can) bring back the experience to all the Samoans, to bring their kids here to learn and to share it with other people who really need help.”
For more about Le Fetuao Samoan Language School, its programs or to enroll, visit www.lefetuao.com or call 232-1382.
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