The Hawaiian
Language
Background
Home
Alphabet
Pronunciation
Samples
Works Cited Page
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Background
The Hawaiian Language (Olelo Hawai’i) along with
English is an official language of the state of Hawaii
which became a state in 1959.
Alphabet
There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet: five
vowels – a,e,i,o,u and seven consonants – h,k,l,m,p,and
w. The ‘okina is used between vowels to make a distant
separation and is considered a consonant making 13
letters altogether.
‘okina
Hawai’i
A ‘okina is placed between double vowels to emphasize
the pronunciation of each vowel sound.
Pronunciation
Every letter is pronounced the same way each time and every
syllable ends in a vowel sound. The vowels sounds are:
A – ah
E – a (long a)
I – e (long e)
O- o (long o)
U – oh
The seven consonants are always pronounced the same way.
Explore some examples with this glossary of Hawaiian words.
Samples
Samples
beach
kahaone
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Click the beach for more samples
Samples
forest
ululāʻau
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Samples
volcano
luapele
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Samples
sunset
napoʻo ʻana o ka lā
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Samples
lava
ʻā pele (rough lava);
pāhoehoe (smooth)
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Samples
mountain
mauna
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Samples
trees
lāʻau
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Samples
coast
kapakai
Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library
to try your own words.
Works Cited Page
Information:
"Hawaii Language - Hawaii Native Language." WanderPlanet Travel | Vacation with Travel Deals, Discount
Hotels Resorts, Cheap Airfares, Car Rentals. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.wanderplanet.com/vacation-hawaii/hawaii-language.htm>.
"Hawaiian language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web.
26 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_language>.
"Hawaiian Language." Hawaii Vacation Travel Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/hacul/language.htm>.
"Nā Puke Wehewehe ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi." Nā Puke Wehewehe ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011.
<http://wehewehe.org/>. Information:
Images:
"Maps of Hawaii." Hawaiian Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <www.hawaii-map.org/hawaii-map.jpg>.
All other images are originals taken by Karen C. Seddon