Every two weeks, a language dies with its last speaker. That was almost the fate of the Hawaiian language — until a group of young people decided to create a strong community of Hawaiian speakers — as they were learning to speak it them themselves.

Larry Kimura, one of the people who spearheaded the fight to save the Hawaiian language.

Shereen Marisol Meraji/NPR

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Shereen Marisol Meraji/NPR

Larry Kimura, one of the people who spearheaded the fight to save the Hawaiian language.

Shereen Marisol Meraji/NPR