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An Introduction to the
Hawaiian Language
The Hawaiian language is one of the most ancient languages that is still in use in modern times. It is closely related to Tahitian. Although it is spoken by only a few thousand native Hawaiians as a primary language, most people in Hawaii learn to speak Hawaiian
words
that are commonly used in everyday speech. The preservation of the language is an important step to the preservation of the culture.
Although the culture of Hawaii was highly developed for many centuries, the language was a spoken language only.... until Protestant missionaries arrived in the early 1800’s. Believing that literacy was the key to conversion to Christianity, the missionaries created an alphabet and dictionary of the language using European letters and pronunciations. This allowed the people to read in their own language. It also made it easier for non-Hawaiians to learn to speak Hawaiian.
The Hawaiian language has a musical and flowing quality due to the fact that every syllable ends with a vowel. On the surface this makes the language appear simple. And in fact,
pronunciation
is simple if certain rules are understood and if the word is written correctly. The complexity of the language becomes clear when one realizes that most words have multiple meanings.....and can have meanings that are not translatable, may be hidden, or even be magical.
Most of us will never have the time or inclination to learn to speak Hawaiian fluently. But if you are traveling to Hawaii, learning some common words and
phrases
will seriously enrich your experience of the culture.
Check out the links below to learn about the Hawaiian alphabet, pronunciation of the language, commonly used words and phrases, the meanings of names, understanding menus, songs and lullabies, and more.
Hawaiian Alphabet
Common Hawaiian Words
Common Hawaiian Phrases
Understanding Hawaiian Menus
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