This paper discusses the historical conditions and socio-political factors affecting the development of Japanese language schools in Hawaii. It traces the development of these schools from the time they were established to prepare Japanese children for their eventual return to Japan through years of legal battles and disfavor to the present, when the schools enjoy full rights to teach Japanese but suffer from a lack of student enthusiasm and motivation because of American acculturation on the part of the third and fourth generation Japanese-American children. (VM)