A visit to Nawahi reveals its formula for success: small classes, a family-oriented environment and teachers dedicated to rescuing the Hawaiian language.

"If you're not successful, I'm going to make you successful. That is my responsibility," said teacher Hiapo Perreira, who in 2002 became the first person in the country to receive a master's degree in Hawaiian and who is now in the University of Hawai'i at Hilo's new doctoral program.

"If my dream were to come true tomorrow..., every Hawaiian would know Hawaiian," Perreira said.

Student Akala Neves, a junior who hopes to attend Harvard or Stanford, explained why that's important: "If you know who you are, you're confident and you don't have to be afraid. ... This school teaches us we can compete with everybody."

In the tiny school library, besides the portraits of royalty, there are dozens of framed pictures of the students' families. "We don't want to do bad because our grandparents are watching," said Lee, the 10th grader.

Books are in Hawaiian, including many originally in English. With very few children's books available in Hawaiian, parents paste translations on top of the English text. So, for example, Shel Silverstein's popular book, "The Giving Tree," becomes "O Kumula'au Aloha."

Critics say students could be held back by learning a language that's not "viable" in today's world. But school officials say Nawahi students have exceeded peers in standardized English tests. Studies have also suggested that highly bilingual students tend to have higher cognitive abilities.

"What people don't realize is that we speak English. Right after we leave this campus, it's English," Akala said. "When we go home, we speak English. So we have so much English."

State Sen. Clayton Hee, a longtime supporter of Hawaiian language programs, was encouraged to speak only English while growing up, like many other Hawaiians. "The assumption, 'To be educated, you must speak English,' is a fallacy," said Hee, a former educator and state Office of Hawaiian Affairs chairman.

He finally learned Hawaiian in college and now uses it proudly and often.

"It gave me a sense of identity. It gave me a sense of pride," he said.

Kapa'anaokalaokeola Oliveira, an assistant professor of Hawaiian at the University of Hawai'i, also expressed encouragement about the once-forbidden language. "Today, I think there's a revitalization. People are encouraging their children to speak Hawaiian," she said.

Still, Hawaiian is far from being saved.