{"id":95,"date":"2008-02-12T14:05:00","date_gmt":"2008-02-12T03:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/2008\/02\/learning-hawaiian\/"},"modified":"2024-06-19T07:43:10","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T11:43:10","slug":"learning-hawaiian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/learning-hawaiian\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning the Hawaiian Language"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although Hawaii is an English-speaking US State, it comes with its own very distinct culture, identity, and Hawaiian language (or rather, languages). Before I came here I tried to get a handle on some of the Hawaiian words and phrases, but in practice here, integrating into and learning Hawaiian language goes beyond the average guidebook. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are actually a few languages being tossed around in Hawaii (aside from Japanese, Pilipino, and other languages spoken by common and prolific immigrants): Traditional Hawaiian, <\/span>and Pidgin English<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also: Tips to Learn Another Language<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. <\/em>

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Traditional Hawaiian<\/span> Language<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The written Hawaiian language has only 13 letters in their alphabet, five of which are vowels. And since most streets and towns have Hawaiian names, the words can get pretty long in an effort to provide variety in the absence of available letters. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking directions from other people, I have more than once been told to go to “honohumaekalulu” or some such indistinguishable place and wondered where I went wrong when I forgot the name and missed the turn. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are however, a few secrets to learning and remembering the names and places of Hawaii: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n