A Beginner’s Guide to the Hawaiian Language
Hawaiian, or ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is the native language of the Hawaiian Islands and a beautiful reflection of the islands’ culture, history, and connection to nature. It is spoken by the kānaka maoli (Native Hawaiians). Though small in terms of letters, the language is rich in meaning, sound, and rhythm. Learning a few basics can deepen your experience of Hawaiʻi and help you connect with the spirit of aloha.
During your visit, you will also hear Pidgin phrases. Pidgin is not ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi but is spoken by many residents and is what makes a visit to Hawaiʻi feel so unique. In the 19th century, laborers from China, Portugal, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and other countries were brought to Hawaiʻi to work the sugar cane plantations. The Hawaiian Pidgin language was born as a simplified language between the groups who did not share a common language.
Alphabet & Sounds
The Hawaiian alphabet contains 13 letters:
- Vowels (5): A, E, I, O, U
- Consonants (8): H, K, L, M, N, P, W, ʻ
Each vowel has two sounds, a short and a long (the long is indicated with a kahakō, a macron over the vowel: ā, ē, ī, ō, ū). For example:
- a – like “ah” in “father”
- ā – held slightly longer: “aaah”
Also, there is no adding an “s” for plural words like English. For example, Lei (flower garland) is both singular and plural.
Diacritical Markings
Two significant diacritical markings in the Hawaiian language are the ʻokina and kahakō.
The ʻokina (ʻ) is a glottal stop, similar to the catch in your throat in “uh-oh.” It is considered a consonant.
The kahakō (¯) is a macron placed over a vowel, as noted above, to show that it is held longer, similar to the way you’d stretch the “a” in “maa.” It lengthens the vowel sound.
Examples:
Kaʻanapali has a pause with the ʻokina while Haleakalā National Park has a long ahh sound at the end because of the kahakō.
Usage:
The necessity of using these diacritical markings is debatable. Per the ʻIolani Palace, diacritical markings are pronunciation guides, primarily for non-native speakers. The Royal Hawaiian Monarchy did not write using the markings.
Pronunciation Tips
- Vowels are pure: Always use the Hawaiian vowel sounds.
- Consonants are soft: H, K, L, M, N, P, W are gentle, not hard.
- W changes: Depending on its placement, W can sound like “w” or “v.”
- Waikiki (why-KEE-kee)
- Hawaiʻi (hah-VAI-ee)
A Few Simple Words to Try
- Aloha (ah-LOH-hah) – hello, love, goodbye
- Mahalo (mah-HAH-loh) – thank you
- ʻOhana (oh-HAH-nah) – family
- ʻĀina (AH-ee-nah) – land
- Kai (KAI) – sea
Hawaiian Words to Enrich Your Visit
- Aloha (ah-LOH-hah) – love, hello, goodbye. Expressed with enthusiasm.
- Mahalo (mah-HAH-loh) – thank you
- Kapu (kah-poo) – taboo, prohibited or sacred. Please stay out.
- Wahine (wa-hee-nay) – female, woman, wife or femininity. Public restroom sign.
- Kāne (kah-nay) – male, husband, man or masculinity. Public restroom sign.
- Keiki (kay-key) – a child or children. You may want a keiki menu.
- Mauka / Makai (mow-kah / mah-kai) – mountain / ocean. This word pair is very useful for directions in Hawaii: mauka means “mountain” (or “towards the mountain”) and makai means “ocean” (or “towards the ocean”). These words are commonly used with directions. For example, when someone says “don’t park on the makai side of the highway,” you know it’s on the side that’s closer to the ocean.
- Howzit (how-zit) – The combination of the words “how,” “is” and “it.” Used as a casual greeting.
- Shoots (shoots) – Often used as a way of agreeing with something, or as a replacement for the word “okay.” (Not a negative term).
- Slippahs (slip-uz) – Slippers, flip-flops, sandals. It is respectful in Hawaiian culture to remove your slippahs before entering a home.
- Aloha (ah-LOH-hah) – love, hello, goodbye
- Mahalo (mah-HAH-loh) – thank you
- Mana (MAH-nah) – power, as in spiritual, divine or supernatural power. You can also use mana to describe one’s personal power.
- Pono (POH-no) – balance, righteousness, doing what’s right. The Hawaiian state motto is “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono” — The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
- Kōkua (KOH-koo-ah) – help, aid, assistance, relief. Kōkua is often mixed with English to ask for help with something. You might also see “kokua” on a lot of local signage throughout Hawaii.
- Kapu (kah-poo) – taboo, prohibited or sacred.
- ʻOhana (oh-HAH-nah) – family
- Kaiāulu (kai-AH-oo-loo) – community
- Wahine (wa-hee-nay) – female, woman, wife or femininity
- Kāne (kah-nay) – male, husband, man or masculinity
- Keiki (kay-key) – a child or children
- Kūpuna – elder, ancestor or general term for both grandmother and grandfather
- Tūtū (too-too) – informal way to address grandmother or grandfather
- Kamaʻāina (ka-muh-ai-nah) – native born. Although the Hawaiian definition of the word means native-born, many use the word kamaʻāina to describe individuals who live in Hawaiʻi.
- Paniolo (pah-nee-oh-loh) – cowboy. “Hawaiianized” word originating when Spanish-speaking vaqueros arrived and taught the locals how to manage cattle.
- Kumu (KOO-moo) – teacher, source
- Kahu (KAH-hoo) – a pastor/minister. Can also mean an honored attendant, guardian, or keeper.
- Kanaka Maoli (KAH-nah-kah MOW-lee) – Native Hawaiian.
- Hale (HAH-leh) – house
- Lanai (lah-nai) – a patio, porch or deck.
- ʻĀina (AH-ee-nah) – land
- Pali (PAH-lee) – cliff
- Wailele (WHY-leh-leh) – waterfall
- Pōhaku (POH-hah-koo) – rock
- Mauka (mow-kah) – mountain or towards the mountain
- Makai (mah-kai) – ocean or towards the ocean
- Kai (KAI) – sea, ocean
- Moana (MOH-ah-nah) – ocean
- Makai (MAH-kai) – toward the sea
- Nalu (NAH-loo) – wave, surf
- Wai (WHY) – fresh water
- Wailele (why-leh-leh) – waterfall. It literally translates to “leaping water,” which is a combination of wai (water) and lele (to jump or leap).
- Kahakai (kah-hah-keye) – beach
- Honu (HOH-noo) – sea turtle
- ʻIwa (EE-vah) – frigatebird
- Koholā (koh-hoh-lah) – humpback whale
- Manō (mah-no) – shark. For many Hawaiians, the manō is an ʻaumākua (ancestral guardian or family god) and is highly respected rather than feared.
- Naiʻa (nye-ah) – dolphin
- Nēnē (nay-nay) – Hawaiian goose. The official state bird of Hawaii and the rarest goose in the world, found only on the Hawaiian Islands. The name is derived from the soft call the bird makes.
- Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa (HOO-moo-HOO-moo-NEW-koo-NEW-koo-AH-poo-AH-ah) – triggerfish. The official state fish of Hawaii. The name breaks down into repeating parts: “humuhumu” (fish), “nukunuku” (snout), and “apuaʻa” (pig), meaning “triggerfish with a snout like a pig.”
- Lei (lay) – flower garland
- Pīkake (pee-kah-key) – jasmine
- Puakenikeni (Pooh-ah-keh-knee-keh-knee) – literally translates to “ten-cent flower” because, in the early 1900s, lei made from this fragrant blossom were sold for ten cents (which at the time, was the same cost for a can of soup).
- Aloalo (ah-LOH-ah-LOH) – Hibiscus (general word to describe all colors of Hibiscus)
- ʻIlima (EE-lee-mah) – small yellow flower
- ʻUlu (OO-loo) – breadfruit
- Koa (KOH-ah) – native tree, warrior
- Kukui (KOO-koo-ee) – candlenut tree
- Kī (KEE) – ti plant
- Pūpū (poo-poo) – Appetizer, or small dishes.
- Poi (POY) – mashed taro or Kalo (KAH-loh) in Hawaiian which is a staple food
- Luau (LOO-ow) – traditional feast
- Imu (ee-moo) – an oven that’s built underground by digging up earth and adding lava stones and wood. Note the imu at your next luʻau, which is used to cook that tasty kalua pig.
- Kālua pig – is a traditional Hawaiian dish of smoky, tender, shredded pork that is a centerpiece of lūʻau feasts and a beloved comfort food. The name “kālua” literally translates to “cooked in an underground oven,” referring to the traditional cooking method.
- Poke (poh-kay) – to slice, or cut, wood or fish into crosswise pieces. Poke is often used to describe sliced, or cubed, fish that is ready for consumption. *This is a commonly mispronounced word, Poke is pronounced poh-kay, not poh-key.
- ʻAhi (AH-hee) – tuna
- ʻOno (oh-no) – tasty, delicious and savory. Also the name of a local fish.
- Lani (LAH-nee) – heaven, sky
- Hōkū (HOH-koo) – star
- Mahina (mah-HEE-nah) – moon
- ʻAnuenue (AH-noo-eh-NOO-eh) – rainbow
- Hoʻolauleʻa (hoh-oh-lau-LEH-ah) – celebrate
- Holoholo (ho-lo-ho-lo) – To cruise around, wander without direction. The word is also used in the context of, to go out for pleasure, stroll or promenade.
- Hana Hou (ha-nuh-ho) – to do again. Often shouted by audience members at the end of a live musical performance when trying to encourage an encore.
- Pau (pow) – finished, done, completed. This is used when you’ve completed something, or a task is done.
- Hauʻoli lā Hānau (how-OH-lee la hah-NOW) – Happy Birthday!
- Hauʻoli lā Hoʻomanaʻo (how-oh-lay lah ho-oh-mah-nah-oh) – Happy Anniversary, or happy day of remembrance
- Hoʻomaikaʻi (ho-oh-my-ee-ka-ee) – Congratulations!
- ʻĀina mālama (AH-ee-nah MAH-lah-mah) – caring for the land
- ʻĀina lani (AH-ee-nah LAH-nee) – sacred land
- Mālama (mah-lah-mah) – to take care of, serve, protect.
- Mālama pono (mah-lah-mah POH-noh) – a common Hawaiian expression which means “take care” often referring to the land, plants and animals.
- Aloha ʻāina (ah-LOH-hah AH-ee-nah) – love for the land
- Kaʻanapali (KAH-ah-nah-PAH-lee) – “Rolling cliffs” or “place of surf”
- Kahana (kah-HAH-nah) – “The work” or “cutting place”
- Kapalua (kah-pah-LOO-ah) – “Two borders” or “double boundaries”
- Nāpili (nah-PEE-lee) – “The clingy ones” or “close together”
- Lāhainā (lah-HIGH-nah) – “Cruel sun” (refers to the hot, sunny climate)
- Makawao (mah-kah-WOW) – “Forest beginning” or “edge of the forest”
- Kula (KOO-lah) – “Open plain” or “meadow”
- Hāiku (HIGH-koo) – “Sharp break” or “sudden gust”
- Pāʻia (PAH-ee-ah) – Likely means “enclosed” or “walled” area
- Hāna (HAH-nah) – “Work” or “craft”.
- Kīhei (KEE-hay) – Refers to a “cape or shawl”
- Wāilea (why-LAY-ah) – “Waters of Lea” (referring to calm, clear waters)
- Kahului (kah-HOO-loo-ee) – “The winning” or sometimes interpreted as “the drawing out of waters”
- Maʻalaea (mah-ah-LYE-ah) – “Lazy” or “slow-moving waters” (refers to the winds and currents)
- Brah (brah) – A casual way to refer to somebody, short for brother or braddah.
- Broke Da Mouth (brohk dah mowth) – If you’re eating delicious food, you can exclaim just how good it is by saying that it has “broke da mouth.”
- Cherreh (cheh-reh) – To compliment something or denote that it is good.
- Da Kine (duh kyne) – When referring to literally anything you can’t remember the name of.
- Grindz (gryndz) – Food or a meal.
- Howzit (how-zit) – The combination of the words “how,” “is” and “it.”
- Shishi (shee-shee) – Urine, or the act of urination. Often a phrase used with keiki.
- Shoots (shoots) – Often used as a way of agreeing with something, or as a replacement for the word “okay.”
- Slippahs (slip-uz) – Slippers, flip-flops, sandals.
- Tanks (tangks) – Thanks, but without the “h”.
- Talk Story (talk stor-ree) – Catching up, telling stories or gossiping with friends or acquaintances. Talking story is often much longer than a normal conversation, and a whole night can be spent doing it.
- Small kine / big kine (small kyne / big kyne) – use this for placing an order/sizes. Also to refer to the past: “I’ve known her since we were small kine.”
- Shaka (shah-kah) – can be said as a positive reinforcement like “good job” or “kudos” and literally refers to the hand movement we all know. Shaka Boom is when you fist bump and end in a shaka. Double Shaka is when you are super happy and shaka with both hands.
History of Hawaiian Language
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) is considered an endangered language today. Prior to Western contact, it was primarily an oral language, as Native Hawaiian culture preserved history, genealogy, and knowledge through chant, song, and storytelling rather than a written system.
When Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaiʻi in 1778, he encountered a highly developed society with a rich oral tradition, but no written language. Hula is a traditional form of storytelling, using hand and body movements to convey history and natural elements. For example, gently rolling, outstretched arms can symbolize ocean waves.
After Western contact began in 1778, Hawaiian society rapidly changed. In 1893, the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom led to major political and cultural shifts. A few years later, in 1896, the Hawaiian language was banned as a medium of instruction in schools, which caused a dramatic decline in fluent speakers.
In 1820, Protestant missionaries arrived and worked with Native Hawaiian scholars to develop a written form of the language so that literacy materials, including religious texts, could be produced. They created a standardized orthography.
By 1834, the first Hawaiian-language newspapers were published. Literacy spread rapidly, and by 1853, roughly 75–90% of Native Hawaiians were literate, making Hawaiʻi one of the most literate populations in the world at the time.
By the early 1900s, only a small percentage of Hawaiians still spoke the language fluently. The Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s sparked renewed interest in traditional culture and language, helping to begin the revitalization efforts that continue today.
When you visit Hawaiʻi, learning and using a few Hawaiian words is a meaningful way to show respect for the culture and help keep the language alive.
