Pila Wilson researches ancient language pathways to and from Hawaiʻi. He is recognized internationally for his work in Hawaiian language revitalization, notably for providing pathways for other indigenous groups to learn from the highly successful Hawaiian language revitalization work occurring in Hilo.

William H. “Pila” Wilson is a professor of Hawaiian language, Hawaiian studies, and linguistics at Ka Haka ‘Ula O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses.

Wilson came to UH Hilo from Honolulu in 1978 to write up the first bachelor of arts program in the United States to be taught through the medium of an indigenous language. He has served as the principal writer of the extensive programs of what is now the most developed program in an indigenous language in the United States. The college has a full P-20 program in Hawaiian from an infant-toddler program at the college’s Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Laboratory School to a doctor of philosophy in Hawaiian and indigenous language and culture revitalization. Both programs are the first of their kind in the world.

Wilson and Kauanoe Kamanā, a founding member of ‘Aha Punana Leo immersion school and the first of Native Hawaiian ancestry to receive the doctor of philosophy in Hawaiian and indigenous language and culture revitalization from UH Hilo in 2010, were the first of a number of couples in Hawai‘i who revived Hawaiian as the first language of their home and children."

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Developing pathways, Indigenous languages, fluency, post-secondary, education, learning, holism

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