Hawaiian Language Guide: Learn ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Words, Pronunciation & Meanings

Two official languages: English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

Hawaii is the only U.S. state with two official languages: English and Hawaiian, which in Hawaiian is called ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (literally "Hawaiian language"). For much of the 20th century, the Hawaiian language was actively discouraged and even banned in schools after the 1896 law requiring English-only instruction following the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. By the 1980s, fewer than 50 Native Hawaiian children spoke Hawaiian as their first language, and the language was critically endangered. However, a powerful language revival movement that began in the 1970s as part of the broader Hawaiian Renaissance brought ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi back from the brink. Hawaiian was made an official state language in 1978, Hawaiian immersion preschools (Pūnana Leo, "language nest") were founded in 1984, and today over 30 Hawaiian immersion schools (Kula Kaiapuni) teach all subjects in Hawaiian from kindergarten through high school. The language is now used on street signs, government documents, news broadcasts, and is spoken by thousands of Native Hawaiians. Learning even a few basic words is a small but genuine sign of respect for this remarkable cultural survival story.

You will also hear Hawaiian Pidgin (linguists call it Hawaiian Creole English) throughout the islands, especially among local residents. Pidgin is not "broken English" or "bad grammar" - it is a fully developed creole language with its own consistent grammatical rules and vocabulary that grew organically on sugar plantations in the late 1800s and early 1900s as immigrant workers from China, Japan, Portugal, the Philippines, Korea, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere needed a common language to communicate with each other and with Hawaiian and haole (white) bosses. Today, Pidgin is a marker of local identity and in-group membership, and you will hear it in casual conversation, though most locals code-switch to Standard English in formal settings or when speaking with tourists. Respect Pidgin as a real language, not something to mock or imitate poorly.

How the Hawaiian language works: a simple system

The Hawaiian alphabet is one of the shortest writing systems in the world: just five vowels (a, e, i, o, u), seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w), and the ʻokina (glottal stop). Two diacritical marks matter significantly for pronunciation and meaning. The ʻokina (ʻ) represents a glottal stop, a small catch or pause in your voice like the sound in the middle of "uh-oh." It functions as a consonant and changes word meanings (Hawaiʻi with an ʻokina is correct; Hawaii without it technically refers to something else). The kahakō is a macron (horizontal line) over a vowel (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) that marks a longer, stressed vowel sound. Vowels are pronounced like Spanish or Italian (never silent), and every syllable ends in a vowel. Once you learn these basics, Hawaiian is phonetically consistent and easier to read than English. Our comprehensive pronunciation guide shows you exactly how to read and say Hawaiian words correctly, and common Hawaiian words gives you an essential starter vocabulary list organized by category (greetings, directions, food, nature, family).

Words you will see and use everywhere

A handful of Hawaiian words appear constantly in Hawaii, on signs, menus, conversations, and you will use them throughout your trip. Aloha is used for hello, goodbye, and love, but its deeper meaning encompasses compassion, affection, and the breath of life (alo = presence/sharing, ha = breath). Mahalo means thank you (mahalo nui loa = thank you very much). Keiki means child (you will see "keiki menu" for kids' meals). Wahine means woman and kāne means man (look for these on restroom doors). ʻOhana means extended family (the concept includes blood relatives, hanai/adopted family, and close friends who are like family). Mauka means toward the mountains (inland) and makai means toward the ocean (used for giving directions instead of north/south). Understanding Hawaiian place names adds another rich layer of meaning to your travels, since most names describe the natural features, history, or cultural significance of places: Waikīkī means "spouting water" (from its original freshwater springs), Haleakalā means "house of the sun," and Lānaʻi means "hump" or "swelling." For the deeper cultural concepts and values behind these everyday words, see our comprehensive Hawaiian culture guides covering aloha spirit, mālama ʻāina (caring for the land), and ʻohana.