Big Island ASL Users

Skyler Tiogangco  I was born Hearing Impaired and I began wearing hearing aids at 10 months old ... I always loved Music ... My Mother would play the music loud so I could hear and we would dance ... Growing up, kids would always tease me saying, "Deaf Boy, you can't dance you cannot hear the music. But my mom would say "You can hear a little and you can feel the music." So one day I went to watch my friends hula and decided this is something I would like to learn.  I learn by using first my eyes and my Na'ao ... my Heart to feel the music..I love people and I use sign language to talk with my deaf friends and in hula we use our hands to tell a story to everyone. I love dancing and getting a chance to dance in the Merrie Monarch tells me that I can do anything my heart wants to do ... Mahalo and my mother says, "With Jesus, anything is possible. Thank God he has blessed us so much ... And thank you to my Kumu Emery and Aunty Debbie and my family and my f

Dear Signing Circle, We are meeting Wednesday, May 6, at 1:45 - 3 pm at the Food Court at Parker Ranch Shopping Center in Waimea. Some interesting statistics have come to light about how many folks experience significant hearing loss.  In the research, they are called “late deaf”. Among 18-44 years old, 20% of the population are late deaf, between 45-64, 30% are late deaf, from 65-74, 40% are late deaf, and after 75, 50% are late deaf. Interestingly, most late deaf deny and hide their hearing loss for an average of seven years before trying hearing aids and cochlear implants.  Even after seeking technological support, most express serious frustration with the technological tools. Many late deaf report withdrawing from friendships and the workplace into self-imposed isolation.  They feel like a burden on others because they repeatedly ask, “What? What?”  Soon, friends, co-workers, and family members dismiss them, “Never mind, I’ll tell you later” and later never comes so the l