The Hawaiian Language

Background

Pronunciation

Alphabet

SamplesClick the orchid to return Home

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Works Cited Page

BackgroundThe Hawaiian Language (Olelo Hawai’i) along with English is an official language of the state of Hawaii which became a state in 1959.

AlphabetThere 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.

Hawai’iA ‘okina is placed between double vowels to emphasize

the pronunciation of each vowel sound.

‘okina

PronunciationEvery letter is pronounced the same way each time and every

syllable ends in a vowel sound. The vowels sounds are:A – ahE – 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

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

beach

kahaone

Click the beach for more samples

Samples

forest

ululāʻau

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

Samples

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

volcano

luapele

Samples

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

sunset

napoʻo ʻana o ka lā

Samples

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

lava

ʻā pele (rough lava); pāhoehoe (smooth)

Samples

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

mountain

mauna

Samples

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

trees

lāʻau

Samples

Use the Hawaiian Electronic Library to try your own words.

coast

kapakai

Works Cited PageInformation:

"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