February 2007


Learn the meaning of Aloha



While you may find our local street names a bit perplexing at first, if you have ever had the pleasure hearing the Hawaiian language either spoken or in song, you will surely agree it is one of the most beautiful to the ear. Its soothing rhythm and lyrical phrases seem as pure and organic as Hawaii itself, a linguistic reflection of the genuine spirit of Hawaii’s people. And the language’s history is just as interesting as the islands themselves.

The first settlers of Hawaii came from the southern Marquesas Islands somewhere around 500 A.D. Their language was amalgamated with others from the region (Tahitian, Tumotuan, Rarotongan and Maori) to create what we now know as “Hawaiian” around 1,000 A.D.

In the 19th century, missionaries came to the islands and were the first to give the Hawaiian language written, alphabetical form. Unable to distinguish between many of the sounds in the Hawaiian language, they made their own translations using just 12 letters from the English alphabet. – the vowels a, e, i, o and u, and the consonants h, k, l, m, n, p and w - which is the Hawaiian alphabet we are most familiar with today.

While English has become the predominant language in the Islands, Hawaiian is also an official language of the state. Efforts to promote the language have increased in recent decades and Hawaiian-language "immersion" schools are now open to children whose families want to foster the Hawaiian language for future generations.

Although a relatively small number of Hawaii’s residents are fluent in traditional Hawaiian, almost everyone speaks a little “pidgin.” Created from mixing phrases from the traditional dialect of Hawaiian with popular expressions from the languages of modern Hawaiian immigrants (including English, Japanese, and Portuguese), pidgin is spoken throughout the islands by local residents of every ethnic background.

Part of the fun in visiting Hawaii is learning some of the most frequently used Hawaiian or pidgin words and phrases. If you’ve never been to the Islands, or just need a little refresher course, here are some commonly used terms:

Aloha (welcome, love/care, fond farewell)
Mahalo (thank you)
Ohana (family)
Kama aina (native Hawaiian)
Malihini (newcomer, visitor)
No Ka Oi (the best)
Ono (delicious)
Kokua (help/assistance)
Hoa Aloha (friend)
Aina (land)

We hope you’ll try to use as many of these words as possible on your next trip to the islands. The language of Hawaii is a vital cultural and spiritual treasure that we look forward to sharing with you. “A hui hou” (Until we meet again), Aloha!