Hawai'i's first Samoan language school for children is moving forward, one step at a time.

Founded last October by Elisapeta Tu'upo-Alaimaleata and initially serving a handful of students out of the garage of First Samoan Methodist's the Rev. Nu'utele Vae'ena, Le Fetuao Samoan Language School has slowly and successfully grown over the past eight months.

Thanks to a parent donation, the school now has a home at Island Family Christian Church in Salt Lake, where free lessons in Samoan language and culture are taught for two hours each Saturday.

"It's amazing how we started off at a garage, now at a church and our dream is a real classroom location," said Tu'upo-Alaimaleata. "We need to think big."

Le Fetuao, which offers instruction to children from preschool through middle school, uses an interactive, positive curriculum. Each month, the school invites a Samoan speaker or goes on a field trip to address a monthly theme.

As part of the school's June theme, Manu ma meaola (animals and other living creatures), the school visited the Honolulu Zoo. During the trip, students used Samoan words to describe the various animals' characteristics, diet, habitat and physical traits.

Because many of the school's students have family members who are native speakers of Samoan, an important part of the program also focuses on reinforcing classwork at home.

"Since our children attended Le Fetuao, we developed a rule that we only speak Samoan in the house," said Vaega'au Falaniko, a volunteer with five nieces and nephews in the program. "It's our way to encourage and support what the children are learning at school. It's a challenge, but slowly and surely, it's working."

Students and teachers recently were able to present the vision and mission of Le Fetuao to the Kokua Kalihi Valley's elders program.

"Our hope is to establish a network with our Samoan elders here in Hawai'i so the children can learn how to make Samoan handicrafts, weaving, traditional Samoan cooking, how they fish and to tell Samoan legends," Tu'upo-Alaimaleata said. "Our elders are the closest ones who are familiar with our language, culture and traditions. We want that knowledge to be passed on and become sustained in our Samoan youths born and raised here in Hawai'i. Otherwise, it'll be lost."

Future outings include a visit to the Samoan Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center while studying aiga (family) and a trip to a plantation when talking about about ma'umaga (plantation or farm).

"The more they become exposed to the language, the better they will grasp and use it," Tuupo-Alaimaleata said. "The children are not only learning the language, but they also learn important values that will help them as they grow up."

Anyone interested in teaching Samoan language is welcome to attend workshops and training at the school. For more information, send an e-mail to le.fetuao@gmail.com or call 232-1382.