The two official languages of Hawai‘i are ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian) and English. The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian dialect with 13 letters in its alphabet: A, E, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, U, W and the ‘okina (‘). The ‘okina is a glottal stop, like the sound between the ohs in oh-oh, and is a consonant. The ‘okina and kahakō (ˉ), or macron, change the pronunciation and meaning of a word. The Hawaiian language has 18 sounds: • a like a in above • ā like a in far • e like e in bet • ē like ay in pay • i like y in city • ī like ee in see • o like o in low • ō like o in sole • u like oo in hoot • ū like oo in moon • he, ke, la, mu, nu, pi, we and w with a v sound. Some vowels are diphthongs, forming a single sound as in “ai” in Waimea. In general, the consonants are pronounced as in English, with the exception of w. W can be either a v or a w sound, but it’s best to take direction from locals. A few words you should know: ‘Āina: land; that which feeds us Aloha: a reciprocal greeting of affection; hello, goodbye and so much more Hele or holoholo: travel Kahuna: priest, minister, expert in any traditional practice Kama‘āina: native-born, resident Kāne: man Kapu: prohibited; no trespassing; sacred Keiki: child; children Kōkua: help Kuleana: responsibility, privilege Kupuna: ancestor, grandparent or elder Lei: a garland given for any occasion; traditionally flowers, seeds, shells, nuts, feathers and various forms of foliage Mahalo: thank you; respect Ma kai: toward the ocean Ma uka: toward the mountains Mālama: to take care of; protect; preserve ‘Ohana: family ‘Ono: delicious Pau: finished Wahine: woman Wikiwiki or ‘āwīwī: fast Hawaiian Dictionary: hilo.hawaii.edu/wehe Music of Hawai‘i Enjoy the beautiful and diverse sounds of the island of Hawai‘i, from traditional slack-key guitar and ‘ukulele music to Hawaiian reggae, hip hop and modern beats. Download music from local artists to kickstart your vacation or as the perfect souvenir to remember your time on the islands. Hula Nothing is quite as universally symbolic of the Hawaiian Islands as the art of hula. While other Pacific cultures have unique dance traditions, hula is unique to Hawai‘i and has become an embodiment of Hawaiian culture, treasured and enjoyed by all who experience it. It was King Kalākaua who said, “Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.” Beloved for reviving hula in the late 19th century, King Kalākaua is to whom the world’s premier hula event, the Merrie Monarch Festival, is dedicated. Each year in Hilo, this weeklong festival features two different eras and styles of hula: hula kahiko (traditional) and hula ‘auana (contemporary). HULA DANCERS TOR JOHNSON The Language of Hawai‘i DISCOVER T he Island of Hawai‘i 68 Experience The Island of Hawai‘i
