Wiki Wiki Hawaiian Language Lesson | The Finest Hawaii Vacation Rentals

Let's start with "KAMEHAMEHA" or as the mathematically hip say, "KA(MEHA)². In English, you would probably pronounce this word as KAH MEE HAH MEE HA (or commie-hommie-ha). KAMEHAMEHA was the first ruler of the Hawaiian Islands. He accomplished this feat by uniting the islands when he was victorious in a great battle waged on the island of Oahu in which he vanquished the opposition by forcing them over a high cliff (PALI which is pronounced POLLY) to their deaths.

OK, Try it with me now….KING KAH MEE HAH MEE HA!!

Folks, if you ever go to Hawaii, forget everything you just said. If the locals don’t laugh you out of town, they just might take offense at you for desecrating their heritage.

You see In Hawaiian….

A is Aaa as in AH
And E is A as in HAY

So it’s
KUH MAY HUH MAY HUH

Try it with me now…
KING KUH MAY HUH MAY HUH

Got it? Good! Let’s try another.

"HILO" (no, this is not a form of poker known as high/low, rather it is a city on the Big Island of Hawaii named after a famous Polynesian ocean navigator.)

Remember I is E as in SEE
and O is O as in GO

So it’s pronounced
HEE LOW

See how easy it is. Ready for another?

"PUPUKEA" which is a city on the North shore of the island of Oahu.

OK, U is ooooh as in PRUDE.

Therefore this city is pronounced
POOH POOH KAY UH.

And no, it's not related to a cute, cuddly bear named Winnie.

Finally, here's a heads up to an old standby joke that you will thank us for keeping you from being victimized by.

"PIPELINE" which is a famous surfing beach adjacent to Pupukea.

In Hawaiian this would be pronounced as PEE PAY LEE NAY right?

Whatever you do, don't say it this way. See, in Hawaii we call the beach PIPELINE. That's because the beach has an English name.

Perhaps the most relevant reason to have the basics of the Hawaiian language down is that the vast majority of street names are in Hawaiian. So, when someone tells you to take LEE KAY LEE KAY Highway you best be prepared to be on the lookout for LIKELIKE Highway because that's how it's spelled and you sure don't want to drive past it.