O‘ahu Art O‘ahu offers a multitude of cultural attrac- tions and events suitable for even the most discriminating tastes. Whether your tastes are classical or contemporary, sophisticated or down-to-earth, world-renowned or cul- turally local, O‘ahu’s arts and culture rival the best in the country. The Arts The Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra is a magnificent ensemble that ranks among the country’s best symphony orchestras. It has won the enthusiastic praise of the nationally and internationally renowned soloists and guest conductors who have performed with it. O‘ahu has some of the finest contemporary dance performers in the U.S. The IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre is dedicated to the creation and performance of innovative dance and theater works that provide transformational imagery and messages. Tau Dance Theater explores traditional Hawaiian themes in a stunning contemporary format. Immerse yourself in the arts and culture of O‘ahu during your visit. 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 ‘oki- na (‘). 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 Waipahu. 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, good-bye and so much more Hele or holoholo: travel Kahuna: priest, minister, expert in any tradi- tional 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; tradi- tionally 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 The Language of Hawai‘i HAWAI’I THEATRE CENTER, DOWNTOWN HONOLULU BEN ONO Experience O‘ahu 75
