LANGUAGE
Hawaii has two official state languages: English and Hawaiian. Prior to the arrival of the missionaries, Hawaiian was solely a Polynesian-based spoken language, and ancestry, myth and history were passed from generation to generation through chants, songs, poetry and proverbs.
Although English is used universally on Hawaii, about one quarter of the population speaks a language other than English at home.
There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet: a, e, i, o, u, h, k, l, m n, p and w. All Hawaiian words end in a vowel. Sometimes the "w" is pronounced as a "v."
The ‘okina (‘) and the kahakô (ô - the accent mark over the 'o' or vowel) distinguish many words. The ‘okina (‘) requires a clean break between vowels during pronunciation. The kahakô requires increased duration during pronunciation. For instance, ono (a fish) is different from ‘ono (delicious) and kau(to place) is different from kâu (your).
VOWELS - STRESSED
| a | ah | car | aloha |
| e | a | may | nene |
| i | ee | bee | honi |
| o | oh | so | mahalo |
| u | oo | spoon | kapu |
VOWELS - UNSTRESSED
| a | a | about | ali'i |
| e | eh | met | kane |
HAWAIIAN PHRASES
|
Aloha kakahiaka. Good morning. |
Aloha 'auinala. Good afternoon. |
Aloha ahiahi. Good evening. |
Aloha. Hello or Goodbye. |
|
E komo mai. Welcome; Come In. |
Pehea 'oe? How are you? |
Maika 'i au. I am fine. |
A 'o 'oe? And you? |
|
'O wai kou inoa? What is your name? |
'O __ Ko 'u inoa. My name is __. |
Mai e 'ai. Come and eat. |
Ho'olu komo ia kaua. Please join us. |
|
'Ohana Family |
Keiki Child |
Na keiki Children |
Makuahine Mother |
|
Makuakane Father |
Wahine Woman |
Kane Man |
Paniolo Hawaiian Cowboy |
|
Aikane Friend |
Hau 'oli la Hanau! Happy Birthday! |
Hau 'oli la Ho'omana'o! Happy Anniversary! |
Ho'omaika'i 'ana! Congratulations! |
|
Pomaika'i. Good luck. |
Male 'ana Wedding |
Mahalo nui loa. Thank you very much. |
'A'ole pilikia. You're welcome. |
|
Aloha au ia 'oe. I love you. |
Ku 'u ipo. My sweetheart. |
Mai poina! Don't forget! |
'Ae. Yes. |
|
'A 'ole. No. |
'Ono Delicious |
Ka 'ilio Dog |
Ka 'ilio keiki Puppy |
|
Popoki Cat |
Manu Bird |
Hawaiian language resource
http://www.ulukau.org/ english.php