Latest news with #ʻŌleloHawaiʻi
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
List of Hawaiian words every tourist needs to know
HONOLULU (KHON2) — If you're planning a trip to Hawaiʻi, you'll likely hear more than just the sound of crashing waves and strumming ʻukulele. You'll hear words that carry the voice of a place older than the United States itself. This voice, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Native Hawaiian language, is still spoken by many; and its words live in the names of streets, businesses and even in the way locals greet each other. Diamond Head closures next month for rockfall mitigation Hawaiʻi is more than a vacation spot. It is a place with deep roots, living culture and a complex history. Knowing some basic ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi terms isn't just about sounding polite. It's a way of showing respect to the people and land that host you. Before you head to the islands, take time to learn and understand these important words. It might help you connect more deeply with the place you're visiting and with the people who call it home. Most visitors learn aloha right away, but many miss its deeper meaning. Yes, aloha can mean hello or goodbye. But at its heart, it means love, compassion and a shared breath. It's a way of life, not just a word. You'll hear it everywhere from store clerks to strangers passing by but try to understand it as a reminder to treat others with kindness (lokomaikaʻi) and respect (hōʻihi). In Hawaiʻi, ʻāina refers to land but not in the way most tourists might think. It doesn't just mean dirt or soil. It means the living earth, the place that feeds and holds people. For Native Hawaiians, the ʻāina is sacred. It's seen as an ancestor and provider. When you treat the land with care, by staying on marked trails or picking up your trash, you're showing respect for this relationship. A common phrase is malāma ʻāina (take care of the land).This word appears on signs across Hawaiʻi. Mālama ʻāina means to care for the land. Mālama i ke kai means to care for the sea. This sense of stewardship is part of life in the islands. Visitors are asked to join in. Take only pictures. Leave only footprints. Think of mālama as a daily action, not just an idea. Kuleana can be a tricky word to translate. It means responsibility, but it also means a personal sense of duty. Someone's kuleana might be to protect a family tradition or care for a part of the land. When you visit Hawaiʻi, your kuleana is to be thoughtful. Follow local rules. Don't trespass. Stay aware. Being a respectful visitor is part of your kuleana. The word ʻohana is often translated as family; but it reaches beyond parents, siblings or cousins. ʻOhana includes friends, neighbors and even community members who support one another. The idea is rooted in connection. It's why you might hear someone call a close friend 'my auntie' or 'uncle'. That's not just kindness. It's part of the culture. You might see signs for a 'kamaʻāina rate' at hotels or restaurants. Kamaʻāina means 'child of the land'; and it's often used to describe long-time residents, not just Native Hawaiians. While the discounts don't apply to visitors, the word itself reflects how deeply connected people are to where they live. Hawaiʻi isn't just a place to visit. It's home to many. Earthquake off Kau Coast bears no tsunami threat It means thank you. Simple enough. But in Hawaiʻi, mahalo carries weight. It's more than just about saying thanks when someone hands you a drink. It's about recognizing the value of what was given — time, energy or kindness. Say it with meaning. If someone helps you, offers directions or shares something with you, let your mahalo be more than a habit. Water is essential anywhere, but in Hawaiʻi, wai is life. Freshwater sources are limited and often sacred. Many place names include wai — Waikīkī, Wailuku, Waimea, and it show how important water has always been. Be mindful of how you use it. Don't waste. Don't pollute. Clean water is a resource to protect, not just enjoy. You might hear someone say they're going holoholo. That doesn't mean they have a plan. It means they're going out, maybe for a drive, a walk, or even a little fishing. The word carries a sense of wandering with joy. If you take a holoholo day during your trip, let yourself go slow. Let it be about the journey rather than just the destination or another item on your list. Hawaiʻi isn't only about nature. It's also about community and celebration. A hoʻolauleʻa is a gathering, a festival, a joyful moment. You might stumble upon one during your visit where you experience live music, dancing, food and people enjoying each other's company. If you do, stop and take it in. These moments reflect the heart of life in Hawaiʻi. You'll often hear the word ono to describe food in Hawaiʻi. It means delicious, tasty or really good. But ono is more than a compliment. It reflects the deep connection between food, culture and joy in Hawaiʻi. When someone shares a meal and says it's ono, they're sharing flavor, tradition, family recipes and memories of togetherness. Whether it's poke, laulau or shave ice, ono reminds us that food is a celebration. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority has a list of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi words to help our visitors get by and become a part of the experience. Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii hosts annual fundraiser 'Great Futures Day' ʻĀina: Land, earth; especially Hawaiian ancestral land. Akamai: Smart, clever, intelligent. Aloha: Love, affection; greeting, salutation; Hello! Goodbye! Hale: House, building. Haole: A non-Native Hawaiian, especially those of Caucasian ancestry. Hapa: Part, half; a reference to those of mixed ancestry. Hoʻolauleʻa: Celebration. Holoholo: To travel around for enjoyment; also used as a reference for fishing. Honu: Turtle. Hula: The dance of Hawaiʻi. Imu: An underground oven, as often seen at lūʻau. Kamaʻāina: Native-born; acquainted, familiar; commonly refers to a long-time Hawaiʻi resident. Kāne: Plural males. Singular is kane. Keiki: Child. Koa: Warrior; a native tree with wood used to build canoes and other items. Kōkua: Help, aid, assistance, relief. Kuleana: Responsibility; privilege; a traditional land holdings of Native Hawaiians. Kumu: Teacher. Kūpuna: Grandparents, ancestors; elderly. Laulima: Cooperation. Lei: Flowers, leaves, shells or feathers that are strung and/or entwined; given as a symbol of affection. Lūʻau: Hawaiian feast; edible young leaves of the taro plant. Mahalo: Thanks, gratitude, respect. Māhū: Various Pacific Island cultures refer to individuals who embody both male and female traits and/or masculine and feminine characteristics. This cultural identity is historically significant and promotes acceptance of diverse gender expressions within the community. These individuals are often respected as caretakers and healers and reflects a unique understanding of gender and sex that differs from Western norms. Maika'i: Excellent. Makai: Toward the sea/ocean. Makana: A gift, present. Mālama: To take care of, preserve, protect, maintain. Manō: Shark. Mauka: Toward the mountains. Moana: Ocean. Nalu: Wave, surf. Nani: Beautiful, pretty. Nui — Big, large, great, or important. ʻOhana: Family, kin group, relative. 'Ono: Delicious, tasty, savory; to relish, crave. Pali: Cliff, a steep hill or slope. Paniolo: Hawaiian cowboy. Pau: Finished, ended, all done. Wāhine: plural female. Singular is wahine. Wai: Water, usually fresh water. It's one thing to repeat a word you hear. It's another to take the time to learn what it means and why it matters. Many ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi words carry stories. They reflect values, ways of thinking and relationships to the land and people. If you mispronounce something, most locals won't judge you. But making an effort matters. As travel to Hawaiʻi grows and as more visitors arrive — some without understanding the place they've come to — the importance of cultural respect grows, too. You can click for a full list of words to know. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 Knowing these words won't make you local. They won't earn you a kamaʻāina rate. But they may help you travel with more heart. That kind of travel leaves a better mark. And that's something worth remembering. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA bound: 5 things to know about Hawaiʻi's rocket team
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A team of engineering students from Hawai'i Pacific University is preparing to launch big dreams into the sky and into space history. The students are part of a national NASA competition that puts their rocket-building skills to the test against 70 other teams of student engineers. The 2025 NASA Student Launch Competition challenges college teams to design, build and launch high-powered rockets. HPU is the only university in Hawai'i competing in the event. The competition culminates with a final launch on May 3 in Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Their team is called Lewa, the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi word for 'air'. It includes eight electrical engineering students mentored by Assistant Professor Arif Rahman, Ph.D. 'We are incredibly proud to represent Hawai'i in this national competition,' Rahman said. 'We named our team 'Lewa' to honor Hawai'i's heritage. Air symbolizes both the medium we're launching through and the boundless possibilities ahead of us.' So, what's the competition going to look like and what will it mean for the winning team? Here's what NASA Student Launch is a nine-month, hands-on experience where students develop the skills to launch a rocket and follow the same design process NASA uses for real missions. From early sketches to flight tests, teams must go through design reviews with NASA experts at every step. 'This NASA student challenge is an amazing real-world platform for our electrical engineering students,' Rahman said. 'It allows them to collaborate with aerospace professionals and refine the skills that will shape their future careers.' HPU's rocket is designed to fly exactly 4,600 feet high. A recovery system with parachutes will bring the rocket and its payload safely back to the ground. Teams are judged on altitude, flight safety, documentation and how well their payload performs. 'Our rocket took seconds to launch, but it was built on months of grit, teamwork, and relentless problem-solving,' said Gabriel Garcia-Monroy, a junior and team lead. Out of 70 teams nationwide, HPU is the only one from Hawai'i. That means Lewa isn't just representing their school. They're representing an entire state. NASA created the Student Launch program to support real missions like Artemis, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually reach Mars. Students work with NASA subject matter experts and use their designs to help with space exploration research. Supported by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement and Next Gen STEM, the competition prepares students for careers in science, engineering and aerospace. After launch day, teams must study flight data and submit a Post Launch Assessment Review, just like real NASA teams. You can click to learn more about the competition, to see the teams competing, to access NASA's YouTube channel and to learn more about HPU's electrical engineering degree program. Whether you're watching from Honolulu or Huntsville, one thing is clear: the students at HPU are aiming high and bringing Hawai'i with them. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 'We're excited to showcase our work in Huntsville and stand alongside teams across the country,' Rahman said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
The 10 most spoken languages in Hawaiʻi
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi is a beautiful, diverse place with people from all over the world. We speak many languages, and this diversity reflects the cultural richness of the state. Officially, Hawaiʻi's languages are English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi; and many, many locals speak an amalgamation language known as Pidgin is a creole language that combines English with elements of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Japanese, Portuguese and other languages. It developed to help people from different backgrounds communicate when slaves and workers were being brought to the islands to work the plantations. This incredible diversity makes Hawaiʻi quite unique in the United States. So, here are the top 10 languages spoken in Hawaiʻi, not counting English or Pidgin, which are also widely spoken. This language is mainly spoken by people from or with ancestry from the Philippines. It is the most common language after English. About 58,345 people speak it at home. That means around 17.8% of Hawaiʻi's residents speak Tagalog. Compare this to California's 2.2% of the population and Nevada's 2.8%. This another Filipino language, specifically from the northern regions of Luzon Island. It's part of the Austronesian language family. Ilocano is spoken by 54,005 people or 16.5% of Hawaiʻi's population. With 45,633 speakers, or 14% of the population speak Japanese. This reflects Hawaiʻi's strong historical ties to Japan. This is compared to California's 0.4% and Nevada's 0.2%. There are 25,490 people who speak Spanish in Hawaiʻi. That's 7.8% of the population. Spanish is a common language in many communities across the United States. This is compared to California's 28.6% and Nevada's 21.1%. Hawaiʻi's native language is still spoken by 18,610 people, or 5.7% of the population. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is an important part of the state's culture, history, traditions and future. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is not ranked on California's or Nevada's 20 most spoken languages. This includes several dialects across 17,360 people, or 5.3% of the population, who speak some form/dialect of Chinese. This is compared to California's 3.2% and Nevada's 1.1%. There are 17,276 people who speak Korean, and this is mainly from the Korean-American community. That's 5.3% of the population. This is compared to California's 1% and Nevada's 0.4%. Spoken by 12,795 people, Samoan is common in Hawaiʻi communities with roots in Samoa. That's 3.9% of the population. Mostly in Hawaiʻi's urban areas, there are 9,418 people who speak Vietnamese. That's 2.9% of the state's population. This is compared to California's 1.5% and Nevada's 0.3%. There are 7,890 people who speak Cantonese in Hawaiʻi. It's a Chinese dialect that 2.4% of the state's population. You can click to access the U.S. Census Bureau's data. You can click to California's most spoken languages and for Nevada's list. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 These languages show how Hawaiʻi is a blend of different cultures and languages, and this blending has created one of the most unique and important melting pots in the world. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hawaiian language was nearly silenced
HONOLULU (KHON2) — In the ahupuaʻa of Niumalu, which lies in the moku of Puna here on the island of Kauaʻi, stands a street that helps to learn some adjectives ma ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻ are speaking of Nani St. The Hawaiian word nani has multiple translations, including as an adjective meaning 'beauty, glory, pretty, or splendid.' Hawaiian Language Month – Direction terms Here are a couple of descriptive words and phrases that you can incorporate into everyday conversations. However, keep in mind, that when describing something in the Hawaiian language, adjectives follow the word being described. When walking past a beautiful flower, pua meaning 'flower' and nani meaning 'pretty or beautiful', the phrase pua-nani can be used. When those flowers are made into a stunning lei, lei meaning 'garland' and lani meaning 'heavenly,' the phrase lei-lani can be used. Hawaiian Language Month is not just an important recognition of a thriving indigenous language, but it is also a reminder that Hawaiian was nearly silenced. Did you know that the Hawaiian language was banned from being taught in Hawaii classrooms? And if you did, you would get punished. During the reign of King Kamehameha III, Hawaii established the first public education system west of the Mississippi. By the late 1800s, Hawaiʻi's per capita literacy rate was 91%, only exceeded by New England and Scotland. But following the illegal overthrow and failed annexation attempt by the US, the new Republic of Hawaii passed an English-only law. In 1896, the Hawaiian language was banned as the medium of instruction in public schools. Check out more news from around Hawaii It wasn't until 1987, a span of 91 years when ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi returned as a medium of public instruction. Did you know? Now you do! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mayor Blangiardi proclaims Black History Month in ‘powerful' ceremony
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi proclaimed February 'Black History Month' in the City and County of Honolulu on Wednesday, Feb. Blangiardi was joined by community leaders, keynote speakers and more to participate in the powerful and inspirational ceremony at the historic Mission Memorial Auditorium. The City recognized the contributions Black Americans have made to the islands and the country with the event featuring speeches from many prominent leaders in black communities statewide. Maui community invited to celebrate ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi 'We are tremendously proud to acknowledge all of the Black Americans that have played such a crucial role in defining who we are as people and as an island,' said Mayor Blangiardi. 'We are forever grateful for their contributions and leadership.' Among the keynote speakers was Camille A. Nelson, Dean of UH Manoa's William S. Richardson School of Law. 'We can co-create a society deeply rooted in aloha, a commitment to justice and a dedication to the flourishing and uplift of all of our community members,' Nelson added. The ceremony also featured Rev. Dr. Gregory C. Carrow-Boyd, Director of Worship and Religious Education, First Unitarian Church of Honolulu and Alphonso Braggs, NAACP National Assistant Secretary. Both discussed 'the Black experience of living in Hawaii and the ongoing impact of Black Americans throughout Hawaii's history and into the present.' Check out more news from around Hawaii Black History Month was institutionalized in 1976 and has been celebrated every year ever since. In honor of the proclamation, Honolulu Hale was illuminated navy blue and yellow for NAACP. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
