|
After nearly 200 years of ha'ole repression, the Hawaiian
language is coming back from
the edge of extinction. There
are a growing number of Hawaiian-language pre-schools and
Hawaiian-immersion schools on Hawaii.
Huna
Kalani .
Ho'oponopono
.
Huna Healing & Ohana .
Soul Mentorship .
Awaiku
The Hawaiian
language was not a written language until it was recorded by the early
missionaries, who simplified the language, making a written structure with only 13
letters - 5 vowels and 8 consonants. More complex sounds were ignored or
forgotten and many are now considered lost.
You can easily pronounce Hawaiian names if you remember:
- Every syllable ends in a vowel, e.g., Ho-no-lu-lu, not
Hon-o-lulu.
- Give vowels a German sound rather than English, e.g., "e"
equals "a," and "i" equals "e," and
"a" is sounded like "a" in "father."
|
Hawaiian Vowels |
Hawaiian Consonants |
| a = ah (as in can)
e = ay (not ee - as in laid)
i = ee (as in keep)
o = oh ( as in coca cola)
u = oo (as in coop, not cup)
' = ' (as in li'l, not little) |
H, K, L, M, N, P are
mostly pronounced as in English; and W has a soft V
sound.
A ' indicates a missing
letter (as in oh-oh)
A line over a vowel shows a
longer sound.
Emphasize the next-to-last
syllable. Make a tiny uh in place of a k
sound
Hoko becomes ho'o |
You can practice saying the names of the islands
(Hawai'i, Maui, O'ahu, Moloka'i,
Kaua'i, Lana'i and Ni'ihau.
Next repeat
the names of towns such as Hilo, Kona, Waimea,
Honoka'a and Kealakekua. Then Holualoa,
Kawaihae and Pu'uhonua Honauanau
and even Anaeho'omalu can just roll off your
tongue.
As you drive around Hawai'i, notice
the names of villages, volcanoes and churches etc - and use a Hawaiian
dictionary to try to "catch" their meanings. Most longer Hawaiian words
are a series of much shorter words - Waikaloa for example
becomes Wai-ka-loa or water - sun - big.
Maybe learn the names of some of the
older Hawaiian gods and demigods (akua), and notice how often
Hawaiian place names mention the old gods.
Some Hawaiian Words and Phrases
|
Hawaiian |
English |
- Aloha
- E komo mai
- Pehea 'oe
- Maika'i
- Mahalo
- A hui hou
- Kane
- Wahine
- Keiki
- Kupuna
- Mea'ai
- Wai
- Lu'au
- 'Ono
- Mauka
- Makai
- Kapu
- A hui hou
|
- Hello, Goodbye, love
- Welcome
- How are you?
- Fine, well, good
- Thank you
- Until we meet again
- man
- woman
- child
- grandparent, trusted elder
- food
- fresh water
- Hawaiian feast
- delicious
- toward the mountains
- towards the sea
- taboo - keep out - sacred
- until we meet again
|
Some Hawaiian words often used in ho'oponopono
(Hawaiian family therapy) are:
| Aloha - love, greeting |
Hihia - entanglement |
Kumu - teacher |
'Ohana - extended family |
| 'Aumakua - family god |
Ho'ohiki - promise |
Mahiki - to peel off |
Pilikia - trouble, problem |
| Haku - leader |
Kahuna - expert |
Mihi - apologize |
Pule - pray, prayer |
| Hala - fault, error, sin |
Kala - wash, forgive |
Noho - possession |
Wehe wehe - to untie |
Perhaps learn and practice this old chant for
abundance and prosperity ...
|
Mele Kualiu - An Altar Prayer |
|
Hawaiian |
English |
|
E Laka, e!
Pupu we'uwe'u e, Laka e!
E Laka i ka leo;
E Laka i ka loa'a;
E Laka i ka waiwai;
E Laka i na mea a pau! |
O Laka!
Bouquet of the wild woods, O Laka!
O Laka, queen of voice!
O Laka, giver of gifts!
O Laka, giver of bounty!
O Laka, giver of all things! |
Aloha a hui hou kakou
Ho'oponopono .
Huna,
Healing and Ohana .
Kumulipo .
Aumakua
|
