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How to say it in Hawaiian The New England missionaries created the Hawaiian alphabet, which contains only 12 letters: the five vowels (a, e, i , o and u) and seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p and w). Generally, the seven consonants are pronounced as they are in English, with the exception of w. When it follows an i or e, w is usually pronounced as v; when it follows a u or o, it is pronounced a w. Vowels are all pronounced: a as in call; e as in well; i as the y in city; o as the long sound in go; u as the double oo in moon. Some vowels are combined to form a single sound, as in the word Wai'kiki'. Vowels with macrons indicate where accents should be placed on a word, like in Waikiki. Glottal stops mark where short pauses - similar to the way we say in English "oh-oh" -should be taken in the utterance of a word, as in Kaua'i. aloha - A greeting or farewell, love, kindness, goodwill, affection. 'ewa - Toward the west; used in giving directions. Also a place name in western O'ahu. haupia - Coconut pudding. he'e nalu - Surf rider. imu - Underground oven. kalua - To bake in the underground oven. kama'aina - Native-born or longtime resident of Hawai'i. kane - Man. keiki - Child, children. kokua - Help, cooperation. kulolo - Pudding of baked or steamed grated taro and coconut cream. kupuna - Elder; grandparent or person of the grandparent's generation. laulau - Steamed or baked ti or banana leaves containing pork, chicken, salted fish, or taro tops. mahalo - Thank you. makai - Used in giving directions. Toward the ocean. malihini - Newcomer, visitor. mauka - Used in giving directions. Toward the mountains. 'ohana - Family. 'ono - Delicious. 'opihi - Limpet. pau - Finished, completed. poi - Cooked taro root, pounded and thinned with water. poke - Chunks of raw fish mixed with seaweed, Hawaiian salt, chili peppers and onions. puka - Hole, a space. pupu - Appetizer, hors d'oeuvres. 'ulu - Breadfruit. wahine - Woman. |