Hawaiian Language
and Alphabet
Hawaiian was not written down until missionaries
developed a 12-letter alphabet. Islanders were
discouraged from speaking Hawaiian in public so it
survived primarily through music. Today, Hawaiian is
more appreciated and taught in schools. Consult a
Hawaiian dictionary for more information.
There are only 12 letters
in the Hawaiian alphabet:
A, E, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, U and W.
And 18 sounds a, e, i, o, u, ä,
ë, ï, ö, ü, h, k, l, m, n, p, w,
and w with a v sound.
During your trip to Hawaii, you might come across some
of the following Hawaiian words. Learn more about this
melodic language, Hawaii heritage, culture and traditions
http://hawaiianlanguage.com
A
aina land, earth
a'a sharp lava
ali'i Hawaiian
royalty
akamai smart,
intelligent
aloha greeting to say hello or goodbye. Aloha
can also
mean love.
H
halau hula troupe
hale house or home
hana work, bay
haole foreigner,
Caucasian
heiau ancient
Hawaiian religious temple
hoku star
holoholo to walk or
travel for fun
honu turtle
hula Hawaiian form of communication using dance
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Hawaiian state fish
I
imu underground pit
oven used for preparing the luau pig
K
kahiko traditional,
old, ancient
kahuna Hawaiian
priest
kama`aina
native-Hawaiian or long-time resident
kanaka man, human
kane man
kapu forbidden,
sacred
kupuna respected
elder
kupunakane
grandfather
kupunawahine
grandmother
kau kau food
ku`uipo sweetheart
L
lanai porch, veranda
lani heavenly
laulau meat or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed in a
ti leaf packet
lei garland of flowers, leaves, nuts, or shells
lua bathroom or
toilet
luau feast
M
mahalo thank you
mahimahi dolphin fish
maika`i good
makahiki ancient
Hawaiian celebration held annually with
sports and religious festivities
makai towards the
ocean
malihini newcomer,
visitor
mauka towards the
mountains
mauna mountain
mele song, sing
menehune mythical
small people who are rumored to
have inhabited the Hawaiian islands before Polynesians
mu’umu’u long and
loose fitting dress
N & O
nai'a dolphin (the
mammal)
nani beautiful,
enjoyable
nene endangered Hawaii native goose
ono delicious
ohana family
P
pahoehoe smooth lava
pali
cliff
paniolo cowboy
pau done, completed
poi pounded taro root
puka hole
pua flower
pupu appetizer, snack
U & W
ukulele stringed instrument, small guitar
wahine woman
wai fresh water
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