Hawaiian Language

Words from the heart

By Kai Lani | WAHA Surf Shop

A Living Language

Hawaiian ('Olelo Hawai'i) is one of the oldest living languages in the world. Once nearly extinct, it's experiencing a beautiful revival as more people embrace their cultural heritage.

The Hawaiian Alphabet

Only 13 letters: A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, W, and the 'okina (glottal stop).

Every syllable ends with a vowel, giving the language its melodic flow.

Common Greetings

Everyday Words

Food & Dining

Nature Words

Surf & Ocean Terms

Useful Phrases

Pronunciation Tips for Travelers

Hawaiian pronunciation follows consistent rules once you understand the basics. Every vowel is pronounced, and stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable. Here are the key vowel sounds:

The 'okina (') is a glottal stop, like the pause in "uh-oh." It matters. Hawai'i has three syllables (ha-WAI-ee), not two. The kahako (macron) over a vowel lengthens it, and misplacing these marks can change meaning entirely. For example, "pau" means finished, but "pa'u" is a type of skirt, and "pa'u" with a macron means soot.

When reading street signs and place names, take it slowly and sound out each syllable. Locals appreciate when visitors make the effort, even if the pronunciation is not perfect. Words like Kamehameha (ka-MEH-ha-MEH-ha) and Kalanianaole (ka-LA-nee-ah-NA-oh-leh) become manageable when you break them apart.

Phrases Every Visitor Should Know

Beyond the standard greetings, these phrases will help you connect with people and places during your time on the islands:

You will also hear directional words constantly. Instead of north, south, east, west, locals use "mauka" (toward the mountain) and "makai" (toward the ocean), along with landmark-based directions. On Oahu, "Diamond Head side" and "Ewa side" replace east and west. Learning this system makes navigating much easier.

Language Revitalization and Immersion Schools

By the 1980s, fewer than 50 children under the age of 18 spoke Hawaiian as a first language. The language stood on the edge of extinction. A group of dedicated educators and cultural practitioners launched the Punana Leo ("language nest") preschool movement in 1984, modeled after Maori immersion programs in New Zealand. These schools taught entirely in Hawaiian, starting with three- and four-year-olds.

The movement grew into the Kula Kaiapuni system, a network of Hawaiian-medium public schools where students learn math, science, and all subjects in 'Olelo Hawai'i from kindergarten through high school. Nawahiokalani'opu'u School on the Big Island and Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau on Oahu are two of the most recognized programs. Graduates are fully bilingual and carry forward a living connection to their ancestors' language.

Today, the University of Hawai'i offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Hawaiian language. Community classes, apps, and online resources have made learning accessible to anyone with interest, whether they live on the islands or thousands of miles away. The revival is one of the most successful indigenous language restoration efforts anywhere in the world.

For visitors, hearing Hawaiian spoken in everyday life adds a layer of depth to any trip. Tuning into hula performances where dancers interpret Hawaiian-language songs, or reading the bilingual signs at national parks, brings the language out of textbooks and into lived experience.

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