Discover Kauai's Hawaiian Language and Culture

Visiting Kauai gives you the opportunity to communicate with others in English, but you also get a glimpse into the Hawaiian language. Just as different parts of the U.S. mainland have their own regionalism -- deep Southern accents, pronunciations of English words in Boston, Texas' famous drawl, and so forth -- Hawaii also has unique vocal character. You'll enjoy the melodic sounds of the Hawaiian language, and you may even start using a few during your visit to the island. Most of us know aloha and mahalo, but you'll quickly add some new words to your list. Hawaiian pidgin is also fun to hear -- it's very rhythmic and colorful.

Hawaiian music adds another laid-back element to your visit to the island. You'll hear the traditional slack-key guitar and ukulele, but also Hawaiian reggae, hip hop, and some more modern beats. Alongside the music it's fun to watch, and even try, the hula. More than just a swaying island dance in grass skirts, the hula began as a means of worship and storytelling through chants (mele). Hula is for everyone -- women (softer, gentler), men (more active), and children (sweet and charming). Kauai was once the sight of the most prestigious hula school in all of the islands and people would travel from all of Hawaii to Kauai to learn hula. Watch the swaying hips synchronized with flowing hand movements when you watch the hula at an island luau.

The Hawaiian culture is a friendly one, rich in the spirit of aloha, and the cultural tradition of the lei is an added enticement. Colorful, fragrant garlands, leis come in a variet -- wide and flat, thick and round, single or many strands. Long ago, hula dancers placed lei of scented green maile leaves at the altars of the goddess of hula, Laka, for inspiration. Today, lei are made of carnation, plumeria, ilima (rich hues and velvety texture, this fragile flower is cherished and associated with royalty), and many others. Lovely anise-scented mokihana lei are very special since they are made of the berries found only on Kauai.

Learn The Hawaiian Language English and Hawaiian are Hawaii's two official languages. Until the arrival of American missionaries in the early 1800s, the Hawaiian language was an oral tradition. These missionaries helped create a written form of the language. It consists of five vowels and seven consonants: a, e, i, o. u, h, k, l, m, n, p and w.

Pronunciation Key, Stressed vowels a (ah, as in far) ex: hale e (a, as in way) ex: nene i (ee, as in see) ex: pali o (oh, as in no) ex: taro u (oo, as in moon) ex: kapu
Pronunciation Key, Unstressed Vowels a (a, as in again) ex: kapu e (eh, as in get) ex: hale
Consonants sound the same as English. Note: Sometimes the "W" is pronounced the same as "V."

Common Hawaiian Words and definitions: ae (yes)
ahupuaa (division of land stretching from mountains to sea)
aina (land, earth)
alii (Hawaiian royalty)
aloha (a fond greeting or farewell , the spirit of Kauai)
a hui hou (until we meet again)
aole (no)
ewa (westward)
halau (house for hula training; hula troupe)
hale (house or building)
hana (work; bay)
haole (foreigner, Caucasian)
hapa (half, person of mixed ancestry)
heiau (ancient Hawaiian religious temple)
huhu (angry, agitated)
hui (group organization)
hula (uniquely Hawaiian form of dance, communication, often through stories)
imu (underground pit oven used in luau)
kahiko (traditional, old)
Kohala (humpback whale)
kahuna (priest, expert in a field)
kai (ocean, ocean water)
kalo, taro (a broad-leafed plant that produces starchy roots)
kamaaina (local or long-time resident)
kane (man)
kapu (tax, forbidden)
keiki (child; offspring)
kipuka (oasis of undisturbed land within a lava field)
koa (largest of native trees)
kokua (help, cooperation)
kona (leeward, leeward wind)
koolau (windward side of island)
kupuna (grandparent)
lanai (porch veranda)
lae (cape, point)
lei (garland of flowers, leaves or shells)
lolo (feeble minded)
luakini (temple for human sacrifice)
luau (feast)
mahalo (thank you)
mahimahi (dolfinfish)
makaainana (commoner)
makahiki (celebration held annually with sports and religious festivities)
makai (towards the ocean)
malihini (newcomer, visitor)
mana (spiritual power)
mauka (inland, towards the mountains)
mauna (mountain)
menehune (legendary little people who inhabited islands before Polynesians)
moku (island)
moana (ocean, sea)
moo (lizard, reptile, dragon, water spirit)
muumuu (long and loose fitting dress)
nani (beautiful)
nene (rare native goose)
ohana (family)
ono (delicious, also a fish)
pahoehoe (smooth lava)
pali (cliff, precipice)
paniolo (cowboy)
pohaku (stone, rock)
poi (pounded taro root)
puka (hole, shell)
pupu (appetizer, snack)
puu (hill, cinder cone)
puuhonua (place of refuge)
ukulele (stringed instrument, small guitar)
wahine (woman)
wikiwiki (quickly)