Aloha mai! Pehea mai nei oukou?

Recently, I conducted a presentation for a diverse group, including several newcomers to Hawaii, particularly military families who will relocate soon. They approached me afterward with a common question: "Would you prefer us to make an effort to pronounce these...

Aloha,

On my first visit to the island of Niihau, I was part of a group of master's students (I had no degree at that time). During our trip, I recall moments when students would converse with a native speakers. However, when these students used certain words, the native speakers appeared...

Aloha e kuu poe heluhelu,

In 1779, Captain Cook and his crew dropped anchor in Kealakekua Bay. Hawaiian tradition dictated that a fleet of canoes greeted them, and high Chief Kalaniopuu ensured these haole (foreigners) were treated with Hawaiian hospitality. However, tensions flared when...

Aloha e ka poe heluhelu (Greetings readers),

This week, let's talk about reading materials for learning Hawaiian. Many new publications are available, but I don't recommend most of them, especially if they are geared towards children. When I was learning, I needed more challenging reading...

Aloha kakou,

If you've ever heard someone describe aloha as simply meaning hello, goodbye, or equating it to love, it's time to uncover the deeper truths behind this profound Hawaiian term.

Now, as you read this, you might feel a sense of surprise or even disbelief. It's...

Aloha mai kakou,

I hope this email finds you well. I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with you – the revamped beginners course, Mahele 1: Foundational Hawaiian, is now available! If you've been eager to dive into the beauty of the Hawaiian language, this is your chance.

Aloha e ka poe imi ike,

If you have the desire to learn the language of your Hawaiian ancestors, I’m making it as easy as possible, eliminating your excuses, and giving you pearls here! 

The Hawaiian language became corrupted as the number of foreigners increased and...

Aloha. He mahina hou keia!

For as long as English has been in Hawaii, pronunciation of Hawaiian words have been butchered, and to this day, it is still a hot topic of discussions and arguments. 

One problem is that as the number of foreigners increased and English took over,...

Aloha mai no kakou,

Do you ever wish you could go back in time and sit at the feet of kupuna and hear their stories, learn how to weave or make Hawaiian salt? No, I don’t have a time-machine for you to use, but I do have a resource for you that is about as close as we’re gonna...

Aloha mai kakou,

Do you know about the Hawaiian radio show from the 70s called Ka Leo Hawaii? It’s an interview-style show led by Larry Kimura, featuring a lot of Native speakers of Hawaiian. I bet your kupuna remembers it... Go ask! 

Now you can listen to Ka Leo...

Aloha e na haumana heluhelu nupepa,

What if you could get a glimpse into Hawaii in the 1800s? Would you take it? 

If only there was a way we could find out what was going on and how people spoke in Hawaii before we started losing the language… 

Oh wait, there...

Pehea oukou? Maikai anei?

When you were a child, how did you learn your first language? 

I’ll go out on a limb and guess that you were immersed in the language. You probably heard speakers of the language in your home, listened to music, and watched entertainment in that...