Basic Hawaiian Language LessonsNâ Ha`awina o Ka `Ike Kumu o Ka `Ôlelo Hawai`i

~ Aunty D: http://hawaiianlanguage.com || http://geocities.com/dhc2020/Basic Hawaiian Language Workshop at the The Southern California `Ukulele Festival

There is only a limited amount of knowledge that one can impart at a workshop. The following lessons are presented with extended learning aids, including links to enhance and further your Hawaiian language learning experience:

I. Greetings :: Nâ Aloha:

Aloha!

Phonetic pronunciation:

Correct: [ah loh' hah]Incorrect: [ah LOH' hah!] [ah low hah!] [ah LOH HAH'!]

Translation into English:

alo = presencehâ = (Divine) breathMore than a greeting, it is a blessing.

Aloha kâkou! [ah loh' hah KAH' kou!] Aloha to all of us! (More than two of us)

Aloha kâua! [ah loh' hah KAH oo-(w)ah!] Aloha to you and me! (Two of us)

Aloha e (Inoa)! [ah loh' hah-(y)eh (Inoa)!] Aloha to (Name)!

Hûi [HOO'-(w)ee!] Halloo! Yoo hoo!

Aloha â hui hou![ah loh' hah-AH hoo'-(w)ee hou!]

Aloha until (we) meet again.

To further your learning: More Hawaiian greetings - The Meaning of Aloha - The Aloha Spirit More Hawaiian greetings and sentiments

II. A Brief History :: He Mo`olelo Pôkole

Origins: ? - Marquesas / Tahiti ---> Hawai`i. Post contact: Hawaiian population was decimated from 1,000,000 to 40,000. Missionaries from New England converted Hawaiian into a written language. Hawaiians soon became the most literate in the world; at one time, up to 90% of the Hawaiian population read and wrote their once oral-only language.

Over time, English usage dominated and the Hawaiian language receded; 25 years ago, the number of native Hawaiian speakers was down to ~2000. Like the nênê, the endangered Hawaiian goose, the Hawaiian language was on the brink of extinction. Pidgin (a.k.a. Hawai`i

Creole English), an amalgam of Hawaiian, English, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Portuguese words, among others, has helped to preserve its words, as well as its grammatical and intonation patterns. In the 1980's, the Hawaiian language (a.k.a. ka `ôlelo Hawai`i) was revived with the Hawaiian Renaissance.

Today, there are more than 10,000 speakers and the number is growing. Hawaiian and English are now the two official languages of Hawai`i.

`O Ka `Ōlelo Ke Ka`ā; O Ka Mauli""Language is the fiber that binds us to our cultural identity"

We honor our kûpuna by heeding them: "If you kill the language, you kill the culture." Keep the culture alive by learning Hawaiian. It is never too late.

E ola mau ka `ôlelo Hawai`i! [eh-(y)oh lah mau kah OH leh loh hah vai ee!"

May the Hawaiian language live on!

To enhance your learning: Why Learn Hawaiian? 20 Pono Reasons He Kono - An Invitation to Give Back to Hawai`i, Hawaiian Culture, and Aloha

III. Hawaiian Words of Wisdom :: Ka `Ôlelo No`eau: On learning

Nânâ ka makaHo`olohe ka pepeiaoPa`a ka waha

[NAH' NAH' kah mah' kah][hoh oh loh' heh kah peh pei-(y)ao'][pah' ah kah vah' hah]

Observe with the eyesListen with the earsShut the mouth

Thus one learns.

To further your learning: Nâ `Ôlelo No`eau: Hawaiian Words of Wisdom / Proverbs Hawaiian Proverbs and Wise Sayings for Seniors

IV. Hawaiian Alphabet :: Ka Pî`âpâ Hawai`i:

The Hawaiian alphabet uses 12 Roman letters ( a, e, i, o, u, h, k, l, m, n, p, w), five (5) Roman letters (a, e, i, o, u) with a diacritical mark called a kahakô, and a diacritical mark called `okina.

Number of letters in the Hawaiian alphabet: 10 vowels + 8 consonants = 18 letters. Here's the breakdown:

10 Hawaiian Vowels:

5 vowels: a e i o u [pronounced: ah eh ee oh oo]

5 vowels with kahakô: â ê î ô û [pronounced with elongated sounds: AH EH EE OH OO]

What's a kahakô?

(kaha = mark) + ( kô = elongate).

It is a diacritical mark that is a horizontal line over a vowel to signify elongation of its sound. Instead of one beat of sound, give it two. In English, this mark is called the macron.

Because â ê î ô û are recognized as vowels in addition to a e i o u, there are ten (10) vowels in the Hawaiian language.

8 Hawaiian Consonants:

h, k, l, m, n, p, w, ` [pronounced: heh, peh, keh, lah, moo, noo, peh, veh, `oh kee nah]

What's an `okina?

(`oki = cut) + na (a suffix that makes a word a noun).

It is a diacritical mark that looks like " a tiny "6" with the hole filled in." Known in English as a "glottal stop," it signifies a break in the breath, as in "oh-oh."

Because `okina is recognized as a consonant, in and of its self, there are eight (8) consonants in the Hawaiian language.

Thus, there are 18 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, and NOT the frequently erroneously reported 12 letters. Here is a graphic that depicts the exact representations of the kahakô and the `okina:

Graphic, courtesy of The Royal Hawaiian BandUnfortunately, to date, the Internet does not support the faithful rendering of these diacritical marks, although efforts to rectify this situation are underway. The closest renderings of the diacritical marks necessary for the proper pronunciation, spelling, and comprehension of Hawaiian words employ the caret (^) to represent the kahakô and the backward quote mark (`) to represent the `okina, as used on this page. Diacritical marks are important to pronunciation. Use them where they are required. You CAN make them on your word-processor. Here's how.To further your learning:

Ka Pî`âpâ Hawai`i :: The Hawaiian Alphabet Why is Hawaii spelled Hawai`i? A List of Common Mispronunciations of Hawaiian Words Common Mispronunciations of Hawaiian Place Names

V. Colors & Numbers :: Nâ Waiho`olu`u & Nâ Huahelu:

Learn to sing the "color song":

`Ula`ula, melemele, poni, polû, `ele`ele

Phonetic pronunciation:[ooh' lah ooh' lah, meh' leh meh' leh, poh' nee, poh LOO', eh' leh eh' leh]Translation: Red, yellow, purple, blue, black

`Alani, `âkala, ke`oke`o, `âhinahina, `ôma`oma`o

Phonetic pronunciation:[ah lah' nee, AH kah' lah, keh' oh keh' oh, AH hee nah hee' nah, OH' mah' oh mah' oh]Translation: Orange, pink, white, gray, green

Further your learning: Colors :: Nâ Waiho`olu`u More on Colors

Learn to count in Hawaiian:

0 =`ole, 1= ho`okahi, 2 = `elua, 3 = `ekolu, 4 = `ehâ, 5 = `elima, 6 = `eono, 7 = `ehiku, 8 = `ewalu, 9 = `eiwa, 10 = `umi

Phonetic pronunciation:

[oh' leh, hoh oh kah' hee, eh loo-(w)ah, eh koh' loo, eh HAH', eh lee' mah, eh-(w)oh noh, eh hee' koo, eh vah loo, ei' vah, oo' mee]

Further your learning: Numbers :: Nâ Huahelu More on Numbers

VI. Pronunciation :: Ka Hopuna: Uncorrected, gross mispronunciations go mainstream and become virtually impossible to correct. Check out these gross mispronunciations of common Japanese words by English speakers:

Words: karaoke || sake || karate Mispronunciations: "carry oh' key" || "sack' kee" || "kah rah' tee" Actual pronunciation: [ kah rah' oh keh] || [sah keh] || [kah rah teh']

Learn to pronounce the words correctly. Hawaiian is too beautiful for it to be trashed with mispronunciations which distort and obscure the intended meanings.Rules of Thumb:

• All letters are sounded. There are NO silent letters in Hawaiian. • Vowels are sounded separately EXCEPT when two vowels are next to each other and

the sound is then blended as diphthongs. • Stress the "next-to-the-last" sound. Sounds with kahakô and diphthongs are

stressed.

"The Nuts and Bolts" of Pronunciating Hawaiian Words: Diphthong [dip' thong] = a blended sound from two vowels in a row, as in "ou" in house or "oi" in noise. In Hawaiian the two vowels are not so tightly joined as in English and BOTH must be "completely executed." The first vowel of the blended pair is stressed more.

Diphthongs: Sounds like: Examples:

ai "i" in ice Kai = Sea water

ae I or eye Mae`ole = Never-fading

ao "ow" in howbut without a nasal twang

Maoli = TrueKaona = Hidden Meaning

au "ou" in house or outbut without a nasal twang

Au = I, I am

ei "ei" in chow mein or in eight Lei = Garland

eu "eh leh-(y)oo'" `Eleu = Lively

iu "ee-(y)oo"similar to "ew" in few

Wêkiu = Topmost

oe oh-(w)eh `Oe = You

oi "oi" in voice Poi = Hawaiian staple

ou "ow" in bowl Kou = Your

ui "oo-(w)ee" in gooe y Hui = Together, team, chorus

W-Sounds:

• "W" sounds like "V" or "W" when it starts a word or follows "a". Examples: Welina! [weh lee' nah] or [veh lee' nah] = Greeting; Hawai`i [hah wai' ee] or [hah vai' ee]

• "W" sounds like "V" when it follows "e" or "i. ". Mnemonic:"Vei"Examples: iwi [ee' vee] = bone; `Ewa [eh' vah]

• "W" sounds like "W" when it follows "o" or "u." Mnemonic: "Wou"Examples: wôwô [WOH WOH] = roar; kûwili [KOO wee' lee] = spin

Y-Glides and W-Glides:These glide sounds are automatically produced with certain vowel combinations. Hawaiian is not spoken in staccato fashion. When two vowels are next to each other (in the same word and with adjacent words), smooth out the sounds with these glides.

W-glides: Y-glides:

Maui [ Mau'-(w)ee] `O ia [oi'-(y)ah] : he, she, it; he is, she is, it is

`oe [oh-(w)eh' ] : you `iâia [ee-(Y)AH'-(y)ah] : to him, to her

Auê [ au-(W)EH'! ] : Oh no! Darn! heiau [hei'-(y)au'] : place of worship, rock shrine

lauoho [lau-(w)oh' hoh] : hairE Hawai`i Aloha ê[eh hah vai' ee-(y)ah loh' hah-(Y)EH]

Practice saying the eight major Hawaiian islands correctly: Ni`ihau, Kaua`i, O`ahu, Moloka`i, Lâna`i, Kaho`olawe, Maui, Hawai`i. Pronounced: [nee ee hau'], [kau-(w)ah' ee], oh ah' hoo], [moh loh kah' ee], [LAH' nah ee], [kah hoh oh lah' veh], [mau'-(w)ee], [hah vai' ee] or [hah wai' ee].

Honolulu is pronounced [hoh noh loo' loo].

Practice singing this beloved Hawaiian song: HAWAI`I ALOHA.

• Listen: The Kawaiahao Church Choir

VII: Simple Sentences :: Adjective + Noun/Pronoun PatternAs with the Spanish language, the adjective (word that describes) come before the noun (the subject). But first, here are some words to help you begin to speak in a sentence.

Pronouns / Proper noun:

au [ Mau'- (w)ee] : I, I amkâua [KAH-oo-(w)ah : we, as in "you and I"kâkou [KAH' kou] : we, as in "all of us"

`oe [oh- (w)eh' ] : you, you are`olua [oh loo-(w)ah : you, as in "you two"`oukou [ou kou'] : you, as in "all of you"

`o ia [oi'-(y)ah ] : he or she or it, he or she or it is

lâua [LAH' kou] : they, as in "two of them" place of worship, rock shrinelâkou [LAH' kou] : they, as in "all of them" place of worship, rock shrine

`o ("So-and-so") : "So-and-so" is Example: Pôloli `o Pila. : Bill is hungry.

Adjectives:

maika`i [mai kah' ee] : goodkolohe [koh loh' heh] : naughty, rascal`ino [ee' noh] : bad, evil

`eleu [eh leh-(y)oo] : energetic, livelymâluhiluhi [MAH' loo hee loo hee] : tired

mâlie [MAH' lee-(y)eh] : calmhuhû [hoo HOO'] : angry, ticked off

anuanu [ah' noo-(w) ah' noo] : coldwela [veh' lah] : hot

mahana [mah hah' nah] : warm`olu`olu [oh' loo oh' loo] : comfortably cool, pleasant

ola [oh' lah] : healthyma`i [mah' ee] : sick

nui [noo-(w)ee] : bigli`ili`i [lee' ee lee' ee] : little

ikaika [ee kai' kah] : strongnâwaliwali [NAH vah lee vah lee] : weak

pôloli [POH' loh lee] : hungrymâ`ona [MAH' oh nah] : full (with food)

makewai [mah keh vai'] : thirstykena [keh' nah] : quenched

nani [nah' nee] : prettynohea [noh heh-(y)ah] : handsomepupuka [poo poo' kah] : ugly

hau`oli [hau oh' lee] : happykaumaha [kau mah' hah] : sad

hoihoi [hoi' hoi'] : interestingmanakâ [mah nah KAH'] : bored, uninteresting

akamai [ah kah mai'] : smarthûpô [HOO' POH'] : stupid

pono [poh' noh] : proper, righteous, balancedpupule [poo poo' leh] : crazy, insane

onaona [oh nao' nah] ; fragranthauna [hau' nah] : smelly, stinky

* A very useful word: `ole [oh' leh] : not

Put `ole after the adjective to negate it:

Examples: maika`i `ole : not good

pa`ahana [pah ah hah' nah] : industrious, busymoloâ [moh loh-(W)AH] : lazy

miki`oi [mee kee oi'] : neat, precisekâpulu [KAH' poo loo] : careless, slovenly

`ino `ole : not evil

Using the sentence pattern of adjective + noun/pronoun:

Pôloli au. I am hungry.Nani `oe. You are beautiful.Maika`i `o ia. He/She is good.Makewai `o Pila. Pila is thirsty.

Moloâ `ole lâkou. They are not lazy.

VII: Commonly used Hawaiian words and expressions:

Hawaiian Word List

KA `ÔLELO HAWAI`I (HAWAIIAN):

Hopuna (Pronunciation):

KA `ÔLELO HAOLE (ENGLISH):

`ae `a`ole pela paha

[ae][ah oh' leh][peh lah pah' hah]

YesNoMaybe

aikâne [ai KAH' neh] friend; friendly; to become a friend

`âina [ai' nah] land; overall environment

Akua IesuKristo

[ah koo'-(w)ah] [ee-(y)eh' soo] [krees' toh]

God, usually referred to as Ke AkuaJesusChrist

ali`i [ah lee' ee] chiefly class; royalty

Aloha au iâ `oe. [ah loh' hah vau-(y)ee YAH' oh-(w)eh]

I love you.

`A`ole pilikia. [ah oh' leh pee lee keh' (y)ah]

No trouble. You're welcome.

`au`au [au au] to bathe

Auê! [au-(W)EH'!] Oh no! Alas! Oops!

`aumakuanâ `aumâkua

[au mah koo'-(w)ah][NAH au MAH koo-(w)ah

guardian spirit, ancestorguardian spirits, ancestors

E kala mai. [eh kah' lah mai] Excuse me. Forgive me.

E mâlama pono. [eh MAH lah' mah poh' noh]

Take care.

E `olu`olu. [eh oh' loo oh' loo] Please.

E komo mai! [eh koh' moh mai!] Welcome! Literally, Come In!

Haina iâ mai ana ka puana

[hah-(y)ee' nah-(y)ee-(Y)AH' mai-(y)ah' nah kah poo-(w)ah' nah]

"To tell the refrain." Sung at the end of most traditional Hawaiian songs.

hale [hah' leh] house, home, building

hâlau [HAH' lau] hula school; originally, canoe house

Hana hou! [hah' nah hou!] Encore! Do it again!

hânai [HAH' nai] adopted, Hawaiian style

haole [hao' leh] Caucasian

hapa [hah' pah] part, usually refers to mixed ethnicities

hâpai [HAH' pai] pregnant; to carry

haumananâ haumâna

[hau mah' nah][NAH hau MAH' nah]

studentstudents

hauna [hau' nah] smelly, stinky

Hau`oli Lâ Hânau! [hau oh' lee LAH HAH nau!]

Happy Birthday!

Hiki!Hiki nô!

[hee' kee!][hee' kee NOH'!]

Can do! Sure! All right! Okay!(Hiki with more emphasis)

Hau`oli Makahiki Hou! [hau oh' lee mah kah hee' kee hou !]

Happy New Year!

Hô! [HOH!] Wow!

hô`ike [HOH' ee keh] to show, exhibit; exhibition

ho`olaule`a [hoh oh lau leh' ah] celebration

Ho`omaika`i! [hoh oh mai kah' ee!] Congratulations!

hula `auana [hoo' lah au-(w)ah' nah] modern hula

hula kahiko [hoo' lah kah hee' koh] ancient hula

huli [hoo' lee] turn, reverse; to turn over

`îlio [EE lee'-(y)oh] dog

kakenâ

ke keiki : the childnâ keiki : the children

[kah][keh][NAH]

the

The word "the" is far more frequently used in Hawaiian than in English. Abstract words are preceded by "the", as in, ke Aloha.

Rules of Thumb:Use ka for words that begin with a, e, o, k, and `okina.

Use ke for all other letters.

Use nâ to pluralize, ahead of the noun. Do not add a "s" to pluralize

Hawaiian words. Correct: one lei, two lei, four lei...

ka`a [kah' ah] car

kâlâ [KAH' LAH'] money

kama`âina [kah mah AI' nah] native, native-born, Hawai`i born.

kanaka maoli [kah nah' kah mao' lee] indigenous person; any descendant of those persons who lived in Hawai`i prior to 1778

kâne [KAH' neh] man, male, husband, Mr.

Kanikapila! [kah nee kah pee' lah!] kani = sound, ka = the, pila = stringed instrument. Figuratively, "Let's play music!"

kaona [kau' nah] hidden/deeper meaning of songs

kapu [kah' poo] taboo, secret, off limits, don't touch!

kêiakênâkêlâ

[KEH'-(y)ee-(y)ah][KEH' NAH][KEH' LAH]

thisthat (nearby)that (over there)

keiki nâ keikikeiki o ka `âina

[kei' kee][NAH kei' kee][kei' kee oh kah AI' nah]

childchildrenchildren of the land, island-born

kî hô`alu [KEE HOH' ah loo] slack key guitar

kîkâ [KEE' KAH] guitar

kôkua [KOH' koo-(w)ah] help, aid, assistance

kona [koh' nah] leeward; hot winds that blow from the lee side against the trades

kukui [koo kui'] candlenut tree; its nuts are used for lei

Kulikuli! [koo' lee koo' lee!] Hush! Quiet! (Hâmau! is more polite)

kumu [koo' moo] teacher

kupunanâ kûpuna

[koo poo' nah][NAH KOO poo nah]

elderelders

ku`u ipo [koo' oo-(w)ee' poh] my sweetheart

Lawa! [lah' vah] Enough!

Le`a le`a! [eh leh' ah leh' ah !] Have fun!

lânai [LAH' nai] porch, veranda, patio

lani [lah' nee] heaven; heavenly; sky; spiritual

lauhala [lau hah' lah] leaves from the hala (pandanus)

tree, used for weaving

lua

[loo-(w)ah]

pit or hole that has a bottom.

Colloquial term for toilet.The proper words that mean bathroom is lumi ho`opaupilikia, which literally means "room to end your trouble").

lû`au [LOO' au] Hawaiian feast

mahalo [mah hah' loh] thank you

mâhû [MAH' HOO'] gay person

mâkaukau [MAH' kau kau] ready

make [mah' keh] dead

makuahine [mah koo-(w)ah hee' neh] mother

makuakâne [mah koo-(w)ah KAH' neh]

father

makule [mah koo' leh] old, of people; aged; elderly

malihini [mah lee hee' nee] newcomer to Hawai`i, tourist, visitor

malo [mah' loh] loincloth

mana [mah' nah] spiritual power

manu [mah' noo] bird

ma uka ma kai

[mau' kah][mah kai']

toward the mountainstoward the sea

mele [meh' leh] song

Mele Kalikimaka! [meh' leh kah lee kee mah' kah!]

Merry Christmas!

menehune [meh neh hoo' neh] industrious, diminutive indigenous people of yore

moemoe [moe moe'] to cause to lie down; to hush or put to sleep

moloâ [moh loh-(W)AH'] lazy

momona [moh moh' nah] sweet, as in fruit

mu`umu`u [moo' oo moo' oo] Hawaiian-style dress

nîele [NEE'-(y)eh leh] nosey, inquisitive

nui [noo'-(w)ee] big; lots

`ohana [oh hah' nah] family

`ôkole [OH koh' leh] anus, specifically the orifice (opening); derriere

`Elemu is more polite.

oli [oh' lee] chant

`ono [oh' noh] delicious

`ôpû [OH' POO] stomach, belly

`O wai kou inoa? [oh vai kou-(w)ee noh'-(w)ah?]

What's your name?

`O Name ko`u inoa. [oh Name koh' oo-(w)ee noh-(w)ah.

Name is my name.

pakalôlô [pah kah LOH' LOH] marijuana, "pot," "grass"

Pâkê [PAH' KEH] Chinese

pali [pah' lee] cliff; precipice

paniolo [pah nee-(y) oh' loh] Hawaiian cowboy

papa [pah' pah] class

pâpale [PAH' pah leh] hat, cap, head covering

pau [pau] done, finished

pau hana [pau hah' nah] finish work; "work is done"

Pehea `oe?Maika`i nô.A `o `oe?

[peh heh-(y)ah oe?][mai kah' ee NOH][ah oh oe?]

How are you?Very well.And you?

piko [pee' koh] navel, umbilical cord, genitals; summit

poi [poi] Hawaiian staple from pounded cooked taro (kalo) root, forming a paste

poke [poh' keh]

Appetizer made of cubed raw fish in a marinade of kukui nut-sea salt relish with chili peppers and seaweed (limu)

Pômaikai! [POH' mai kah' ee] Good luck! Best wishes! Blessings!

pôpoki [POH' poh kee] cat

pua [poo'-(w)ah flower

puka [poo' kah] hole, as in puka shells

pule [poo' leh] pray, prayer

pûpû [POO' POO'] hors d`oeuvre, finger food, appetizer; sea/land shells

Tsâ! / Cha! / Kâ! [TSA!] / [cha!] / [kah!] Darn! Drat! Shucks! Oh no!

tûtû [TOO' TOO] Grandma; affectionate term for

old people--relatives or friends--of the grandparent generation

`uku [oo' koo] Head louse; flea

`ukulele [oo koo leh' leh]

`uku= flea + lele = jumpingLiterally, "jumping flea"

It is NOT spelled `iukuleili !

wahine [wah hee' neh] woman, female, wife, Mrs.

Wikiwiki! [wee' kee wee' kee] Hurry up! Quickly! To hurry up, very quick.

Aloha â hui hou!