7 Tips and Tricks to Learn Hawaiian Quickly
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, meaning when you make a purchase, I earn a small commission. Affiliate links cost you nothing to use and keep the content on this website free. For more information, see the privacy and disclosure policy.
From Aloha to Wahine: The Magic of Hawaii’s 12-Letter Alphabet
Are you traveling to Hawaii? Before you head out to island paradise to experience ohana, – mutual respect and kind affection for others – why not make it an extra-cool experience and learn some Hawaiian words?
Whether it’s your first visit to Hawaii or your tenth time on one of its eight major islands, most people agree that learning to speak a few local words can make the trip more memorable and fun.
Everyone seems to know “Aloha” – the greeting that means hello and goodbye – but what about other words like Ānuenue, which means rainbow, or Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, the name of Hawaii’s unofficial state fish?
Read on for 7 fun ways to learn Hawaiian before you arrive – you’ll be saying “mahalo” to yourself!
1. Listen to Hawaiian Music
A hybrid of many instruments including slack guitar, ukulele, hand drum, and thumb piano, mixed with melodic vocals, Hawaiian music is loved by many for its rhythmic, infectious beat and descriptive lyrics, often sung in Hawaiian and English but occasionally in other languages like Spanish.
Download some Hawaiian music from a CD, or listen to channels on Spotify, Pandora, or your favorite online music source to discover more. Be sure to read the lyrics whenever available.
Look for melodic, cool-beat songs by groups like Hapa, Mahaka Sons, and Gabby Pahinuí.
2. Practice with an App
Most smartphone applications skip Hawaiian as a language, focusing instead on heavy hitters like Spanish, English, and Chinese.
For Hawaiian language learning, check out Duolingo, where a cute green owl will urge you to check in daily (by setting your notifications) and remind you when you’ve missed words.
Stick with it, and in less than a week you’ll be comfortable saying phrases like, “hāele pū” (let’s go!)
3. Watch Hawaii-related movies
Many great films were made on set in Hawaii, from romantic comedies to dramatic adventures to animated classics.
A fun way to learn Hawaiian is to watch these films and listen for island words included in the dialogue. Movies like 50 First Dates, Tropic Thunder, Blue Crush, Moana, and Lilo and Stitch are great films made in Hawaii.
50 First Dates (2004) This fun-hearted rom-com stars Drew Barrymore as Lucy, a young woman with memory loss from a tragic accident.
Every day when Lucy wakes up, she can’t remember a thing from the day before! Adam Sandler stars as Henry, the man who falls in love with her and relives every date with Lucy as the first.
Rob Schnieder stars as Ula, Henry’s Hawaiian friend with several crazy kids, who probably says the funniest island words throughout the film.
Filmed on the island and some great places of Oahu, 50 First Dates is worth watching for the beautiful scenery.
Tropic Thunder (2014) is a comedy adventure featuring Ben Stiller and an all-star cast including Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr., and Tom Cruise.
Filmed on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i, this parody about a group of actors making a movie about a war in the jungle who end up becoming soldiers surviving in a not-so-posh environment touts imagery of lush rain forests, flora, and fauna. Rumor has it this was modified from its original film time due to unplanned rainstorms.
Blue Crush (2002) is a romantic drama starring Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sanoe Lake as three girls from Maui who live to surf giant waves while trying to balance their love of the sport with real love.
Competing with heckling guy surfers and proving their worth as women who ride ‘boards and dominate “pipe” (surfer talk for pipeline, or the curve formed by waves), these three actors did many of their own stunts on the breathtaking beaches featured in this thrilling film.
Moana (2016) While there is some controversy over the Dinsey animated film Moana being about Polynesia and the colonization of the Pacific Islands, the film features the voices of Hawaiian singer and actress Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui.
With its close ties to Polynesian culture and similarities in language, Moana seems like a notable outside resource for learning Hawaiian.
Lilo and Stitch (2002) is a Disney animated film about a young girl on the island of Kaua’i who adopts an extraterrestrial “dog” and teaches him love and all about “ohana” (family).
From its storyline about traditions and history to its warm-hearted life lessons, this film is a winner for all ages.
The best part of Lilo and Stitch, however, could be the sing-along soundtrack, with tunes like the infectious He Mele no Lilo, performed by the Kamehameha Schools children’s chorus with Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu in Hawaiian.
5. Learn about the Hula
Created by the Polynesians who originally settled in Hawaii, a Hula is a dance accompanied by a chant (“oli”) or a song (“mele”) used to tell stories and honor traditions from Hawaiian culture.
Historians note that the dance, originally called “Ha’a” was first performed for Pele, the goddess who created the Hawaiian Islands.
Popular instruments played as part of a Hula may include guitar and ukelele, and the dance is performed sitting or standing.
The dance is as important as the costume with women traditionally wearing grass skirts and men bare-chested, with beautiful strung flower necklaces and palm leaf crowns for both.
Hulas have religious and spiritual motives, paying homage to their beautiful islands as dancers use fluid, elegant gestures to represent ocean waves and swaying palms.
While most hulas feature instrumental tunes, some songs have lyrics with traditional Hawaiian words to add to your fun ways to learn the language.
4. Watch videos of Hakas
The Haka is a ceremonial Māori war dance or challenge” performed to acknowledge achievements, occasions, and funerals, and welcome distinguished guests.
To perform the Haka is to display the strength, pride, and unity of a tribe. Performed in a group, Hakas feature rapid movements, foot-stomping, words, and fierce facial expressions with tongues out, interspersed with short words and rhythmically shouted phrases.
Of all the fun ways to learn Hawaiian, watching a Haka might just be the sharpest and mightiest!
6. Switch your iPhone to Hawaiian
Apple iPhone users rejoice, Hawaiian is one of the languages available for your keyboard. Now you can add it and see how thrilling it is to learn a beautiful, new language.
Make the switch by going to Settings > General > keyboard > keyboards > Add a keyboard, search for Hawaiian, and observe what changes. The spacebar turns to the word Ka’ahua and the enter key changes to Kāho’i.
You also receive the ʻokina, a glottal stop that looks like a backward apostrophe, and the kahako for a horizontal line reminding you to lengthen your accentuation when pronouncing the vowel that appears above.
7. Hele (Go) to Hawaii
This last suggestion goes without saying and is obvious but, when all else fails in learning any language, perhaps the best solution is to GO THERE.
After all, who wouldn’t want to go to Hawaii, with its picturesque beaches, voluminous volcanos, delicious food, and tropical traditions steeped in rich culture?
The best part may just be hearing all that beautiful spoken language all around you, which is even more lovely when you know what’s being said.
