Although more than 100 different languages are spoken in Hawai‘i, the state's two official languages are Hawaiian and English. The melodious Hawaiian language is a Polynesian dialect and has only 12 letters in its alphabet: vowels a, e, i, o, u and consonants h, k, l, m, n, p and w. Vowel pronunciation is as follows:


Vowel Pronunciation
a ah
e ay
i ee
o oh
u oo

When a "w" is immediately preceded by a vowel that begins a word (such as ‘Ewa), it is pronounced as a "v." A "w" can also sometimes be pronounced as a "v" if it appears in the middle or toward the end of a word (such as in ka‘a‘awa).

To clarify pronunciation in Hawaiian words, several diacritical marks are used. The glottal stop (called an ‘okina) is written as an open single quote mark
( ‘ ) and signifies a brief pause between letters (such as in Ka‘ahumanu). The macron (called a kahako) is a solid line written over the top of a vowel and signifies an extended vowel sound (such as in Waikiki; the last two "i"s would each be pronounced as "eee" instead of "ee").

Fun Words to Learn

Although you won't meet many residents who will speak to you in Hawaiian, you will encounter a few words of this beautiful language in everyday conversation — and on the doors of many public restrooms. Have fun learning these popular words before visiting Hawai‘i:


Hawaiian Word English Meaning
aloha love, hello, goodbye
mahalo thank you
keiki child
kane man
wahine woman
kama‘aina Hawai‘i resident
pua flower
mauna mountain
moana ocean
kaukau food, meal
pau finished
ho‘olaule‘a street party, festival


Phrases

When vowels appear side by side, each letter is pronounced; thus, "aa" is pronounced "ah-ah." The exception to this: the combination of "ou" is pronounced only as "oh," as in "Ahui hou" (goodbye/until we meet again).

Hawaiian Phrase English Meaning
Aloha Greetings
Aloha no Response to greeting
Ahui hou Goodbye
Aloha kakahiaka Good morning
Aloha ‘auinala Good afternooon
Aloha ahiahi Good evening
Mahalo Thank you
Mahalo nui loa Thank you very much
‘A‘ole pilikia You're welcome
‘Olu‘olu Please
Ho‘omaika‘i ‘ana Congratulations
Pehea ‘oe? How are you?
Maika‘i I'm fine.
Maika‘i no Very Fine
Kala mai ia‘u Excuse me
A hui hou kakou Until we meet again
He wahine u‘i A beautiful woman
Ko‘u aloha My Love
Pomaika‘i Blessing, good luck

Hau‘oli La Hanau

Happy Birthday

Hau‘oli la Ho‘omana‘o Happy Anniversary


Source: "The Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary" by Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert, Esther T. Mookini; University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu

More resources:
  • About the Hawaiian Language