He ʻŌlelo na nā Mākuahine ʻElua: (Re)conceptualizing L2 Hawaiian Speakerhood Through Kanaka Maoli Kinship Epistemology
G. H. Kapeliela Gilbert
Hūlili: Multidisciplinary Research on Hawaiian Well-Being, 12, 194–222.
Abstract
Drawing on the Hawaiian practices of hānai and poʻolua, this essay reimagines Hawaiian language acquisition through pilina and linguistic genealogy. It proposes L2 Hawaiian as an ʻōlelo na nā mākuahine ʻelua—a language of two mothers—calling for stronger relationships between L1 and L2 speakers in language revitalization.
Recommended Citation
Gilbert, G. H. K. (2026). He ʻōlelo na nā Mākuahine ʻElua: (Re)conceptualizing L2 Hawaiian speakerhood through Kanaka Maoli kinship epistemology. Hūlili: Multidisciplinary Research on Hawaiian Well-Being, 12, 194–222.
