Basic Hawaiian Language Workshop: >> A note to the 2nd Annual 'Ukulele Festival students Presented to you, with Aloha, by Aunty D (`Ânakê D) Go to: http://www.oocities.org/olelo.geo.com/workshop.htm

Aunty D's Hawaiian language and culture sites:   The Hawaiian Language Web Site: hthttp://www.oocities.org/olelo.geo  The Hula Pages: http://www.oocities.org/olelo.geo/hula.html 'Da Hawai`i Seniors Club:  http://oocities.com/dhc2020/

I.  Greetings ~ Nâ Aloha:

Only a limited amount of knowledge can be imparted at a workshop. Please use the online links to further enhance your Hawaiian language learning experience:
"ALOHA Is..." - More Hawaiian greetings - The Meaning of Aloha - The Aloha Spirit  - More Hawaiian greetings and sentiments
 

II.  A Brief History of Hawai`i's Host Language ~  He Mo`olelo Pôkole o Ka `Ôlelo Makuahine o Hawai`i

Origins: ? - Marquesas / Tahiti ---> Hawai`i. Post contact: New England missionaries 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. Hawaiian population was decimated from 1,000,000 to 40,000 by diseases imported from other parts of the world. Over time, the host language was suppressed and English usage dominated. In the late 1970s, 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 (ka `ôlelo Hawai`i) was revived with the Hawaiian Renaissance. 

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!

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.  Today, it is approximated that less than 4000 pure-blooded Hawaiians are left on the planet. The host culture, however, now thrives again. We honor our kûpuna (elders and those who have come before us) by heeding them: "If you kill the language, you kill the culture."   Keep the culture alive by learning Hawaiian.  It is never too late.   Why Learn Hawaiian? 20 Pono Reasons - Give Back to Hawai`i, Hawaiian Culture, and Aloha "`O Ka `Ōlelo Ke Ka`ā; O Ka Mauli" "Language is the fiber that binds us to our cultural identity"

III.  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:

Graphic, courtesy of The Royal Hawaiian Band

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.

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, there are eight (8) consonants in the Hawaiian language.

Unfortunately, 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.

  Ka Pî`âpâ Hawai`i ~The Hawaiian Alphabet -  Why is Hawaii spelled Hawai`i? - Mispronunciations of Hawaiian Words

IV.  Pronunciation ~ Ka Hopuna: 

Uncorrected, gross mispronunciations go mainstream and become virtually impossible to correct.  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. 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 last syllable if it contains a diphthong, otherwise, stress the "next-to-the-last" syllable.

"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. Don't open your mouth wide. 

W-Sounds:

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.  

V: Hawaiian Words of Wisdom ~  Ka `Ôlelo No`eau:  On learning    Hawaiian Proverbs -  More

It's Time to Speak Hawaiian:

VI.  Colors & Numbers ~ Nâ Waiho`olu`u & Nâ Huahelu:

VII: Simple Sentences ~  Adjective + Noun/Pronoun Pattern

As with the Spanish language, the adjective (word that describes) come before the noun (the subject).  Here are some words to help you begin to speak in sentences.

VII:  Commonly used Hawaiian words and expressions:

Speak Hawaiian Like a Local ;-) - Links to Hawaiian Language Classes - Kamehameha Schools: Distance Learning: Kulâiwi Streaming Videos - University-level Online Hawaiian Language Classes  - University of Hawai`i at Hilo:  HAW 101 Online