The Hawaiian language is a major part of the culture and history of Hawaii. Unfortunately, since Hawaii became a part of the United States, the Hawaiian language has been slowly disappearing. It went from being the official language, to completely banned, and finally it’s back to being used on street signs and even in some official documents.
Although it’s back in use to a certain extent, Hawaiian is still considered an endangered language, which is why it’s important to continue teaching it and protecting it before it becomes extinct. That’s why February is officially Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month).
Facts About ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (The Hawaiian Language)
To celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, here are a few facts about the Hawaiian Language to show you what a truly interesting language it really is.
The Hawaiian Language Is Critically Endangered
Back in its prime (before Captain Cook landed on Hawaii’s sunny shores), there were somewhere between 400,000 and 800,000 native Hawaiian speakers throughout the Islands. Today, as you might have guessed, that number has dropped significantly to only about 2,000 native speakers—or around 0.1% of the population of Hawaii.
With so few native speakers, Hawaiian is considered a critically endangered language. Most experts didn’t even expect it to survive the 20th century. Luckily, there has been a renaissance over the past 40 years, leading to more people studying and learning the language. But it’s not safe yet; we still need to focus on preserving the native language of the Islands.
The Hawaiian Alphabet Has 12 Letters
Want to sing the ABCs in Hawaiian? It’s going to go a little something like this:
A, E, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, U, and W.
You might see some sources that say there’s a 13th letter of the Hawaiian alphabet, which refers to a glottal stop. You’ll see it written as an apostrophe, like in the word “Hawai’i.”
All the words in Hawaiian are written with only those 12 (13) letters.
It Wasn’t a Written Language until the 1800s
Although it has an alphabet now, that wasn’t always the case. For potentially thousands of years, Hawaiian was solely a spoken language. It couldn’t be written because there weren’t any letters! Elders would pass down information in the form of stories and songs.
When Christian missionaries arrived on the Islands in 1820, they converted the oral Hawaiian language into a written language. Then, they taught the natives to read and write, so they should share the word of the Bible. That’s why the letter symbols in Hawaiian are suspiciously similar to those used in English.
It’s the Official Language of Hawaii
Hawaii is the only state with two official languages. As you might have guessed, the two languages are English and Hawaiian.
The decision to make Hawaiian the official language of Hawaii was made in 1978 when it was added to the Hawaiian State Constitution. There are even Hawaiian interpreters available for many government proceedings, including court appearances.
Hawaiian Phrases to Learn
Want to help the Hawaiian language live on? Here are a couple Hawaiian phrases to learn and use in your everyday life.
Aloha – Mostly used for hello, but it means so much more. It’s official meaning is “love.”
Mahalo – Thank you.
A hui hou – Until we meet again.
Howzit – How are you? Or, more technically “what’s up!?”
Ohana – Family, both blood-related and adopted (close friends).
Kama’aina – Local Hawaiian. Literally translates to “child of the land.” Can refer to people who move to the Islands, not just natives.
Pau hana – Time after work designated for relaxation and spending time with your ohana.
E hele kāua i ke kahakai – Let’s go to the beach! (to be used liberally)
‘Aina – The land. Literally translates to “that which feeds us.”
Mauka and Makai – Mountain and ocean respectively.
If you really want to practice your newfound Hawaiian skills and see why this language means so much, come visit. Better yet, you can become a Kama’aina yourself! There are plenty of properties available on the Big Island. If you’re ready to make your dreams of living in a tropical paradise a reality, contact me. I’d love to show you around and find the perfect property for your needs!
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.