![]() This goes beyond just slang, however, and the importance of “talking story” with others is a big part of Hawaiian culture. The term is complicated, but not disrespectful offhand and is more of an identifier. This is used to refer to a foreigner from the mainland, usually a white person. It can also be a verb, as in “He’s kooking it so hard.” Haole It is similar to dude, man, brother, bro, etc., but pronounced with a deep “ahhh” sound Howzit?Ī truncated version of “How’s it going?” KookĪ surf term that has spread to the wider world, this means a clueless individual who is doing things wrong and ruining it for others. Its meaning also shows the spirit of gratitude and aloha in Hawaiian culture Braddah (Brah)īrother, though probably not an actual sibling. This means “thank you,” and can and should be used frequently. If someone says it to you, you should say Aloha back. Broken down, “Alo-” means “the presence of” and “-ha” means “breath or life force.” This shows the spiritual aspect of it, and though the word has been co-opted by corporate marketing departments, it is still a very real thing for Hawaiians. The word of a thousand meanings, people say “Aloha” for hello, goodbye, I love you, peace, and more. ![]() As such, here are some important terms you will likely hear in Hawaiian Pidgin. It indicates that you’re making an effort to understand the language and culture. So while it’s not a good idea to go heavy on the Pidgin lingo with locals you don’t know, learning and understanding common terms does in fact show respect. Aloha and Mahalo are the two exceptions, as they’ve passed into the common lexicon and are used commonly by locals and tourists alike. Speaking Pidgin if you’re not from there may be offensive to some, but more likely will simply get you laughed at if you try to go overboard with it. Hawaiians and Hawaiian residents are very proud of their island, and want it treated with the respect it’s due. In Hawaii, respect is supremely important. One of the first things you’re likely to note about consonants is that the “th” sound is replaced by “d.” That means “this and that” is “dis and dat.” Pidgin is also a non-rhotic language, meaning ending “-r’s” are dropped and “car” becomes “cah.” It’s similar to how they do it in Boston, yet at the same time not similar at all. Vowel sounds are also elongated, a vestige of the vowel-heavy Hawaiian language, which only has seven consonants. That means that while most of the vocabulary and grammar structures are the same, everything comes out at a different rhythm. Pidgin is a strikingly beautiful language, as its cadence is markedly different from what we normally hear in English. The Hawaiian influence was impossible to suppress, however, as seen in the Pidgin language spoken by Hawaiians today. ![]() ![]() The true Hawaiian language was even banned by the government in the late 1800s, with officials decreeing that only English could be used in schools. Laborers from Portugal, the Philippines, Japan and a host of other countries arrived, all contributing to a pidgin Hawaiian language, which later morphed into a more English-based creole. Local pineapple and sugar industries began to flourish, and Hawaii became a common port of call in the Pacific, bringing an influx of people and workers from all over the world. Cook tried to rename Hawaii “The Sandwich Islands” and was killed the following year. ![]() The Hawaiian language began to develop at this point in isolation, until European settlers began arriving in the late 1700s, notably renowned British explorer Captain James Cook. Polynesians are believed to have been the first settlers, arriving by raft sometime around 300 AD. If all of that seems a bit perplexing, it’s because the history of Hawaii itself has been anything but simple. And for the icing on the confusion cake, Hawaii’s most famous word, the illustrious Aloha, not only means hello, goodbye, and a thousand other things, it transcends language and is in fact a way of life itself on the islands. The daily language is locally known as Pidgin, which is in fact not a pidgin language itself, but a full-blown creole language with its own native speakers. It is one of the US’s few officially bilingual states, with English and Hawaiian of course being the official languages, but neither of those is the common language that actual Hawaiians and Hawaiian residents speak. Hawaii is known for good vibes, good waves, and a good deal of confusion over its language. ![]()
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