Ōlelo Hawaiʻi

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is the indigenous language of the island and one of the state’s two official languages alongside English. According to the National Park Services, “The language is a means to connect with ancestors, better comprehend stories and fully appreciate traditions.” Through learning and using the language, individuals can better understand the interconnection between people and nature, the agency states.

Photo by Moevai Tefan

The Hawaiian language consists of five vowel sounds:

• a ('a' as in 'car') 
  
• e ('e' as in 'egg') 
  
• i ('i' as in 'eel') 
  
• o ('o' as in 'four') 
  
• u ('u' as in 'put') 

Vowels can be long or short. A long vowel is signified with a kahakō (macron) above it.

• e, (short vowel) nene: to stir, show animation, move, as a fledgling. 
  
• ē, (long vowel) nēnē: an endemic Hawaiian goose. 

There are eight consonants in Hawaiian, pronounced similar to English- h, k, l, m, n, p, w (pronounced as a w or soft v), and ʻokina (ʻ).

A glottal stop (a break between syllables) is signified with an ʻokina (ʻ) before a vowel. To practice pronouncing the ‘okina, say the word “uh-oh". The ʻokina is different from an apostrophe. The ʻokina looks like a 6 and the apostrophe a 9.

• aʻa: a root. 
  
• ʻaʻa: to brave, dare, challenge. 
  
• ʻaʻā: to burn, also a jagged form of lava.