You can always say thank you, but feel free to say mahalo instead. You will often see it on trash bins because we appreciate you throwing your trash away. You will generally hear it used as a welcoming greeting.Į komo mai means come in, but you will also hear or see it as welcoming greeting, especially when arriving. Hawaiian vowel sounds are different than what you may be accustomed to, but this basic guide will get you through most words:Īloha means hello, goodbye and love. One exception is the w is traditionally pronounced as a v-sound (though you may hear it both ways on island). Most consonants are exactly how you speak them in English. Pronunciationįirst, lets start with a pronunciation key.

Learning a few Hawaiian words may help you navigate conversations with people you meet on Maui, and it is fun to speak a bit of the local language! This guide helps you correctly pronounce common Hawaiian words you may come across, and understand pidgin- our own unique island dialect.

English is the primary language in Hawaii, but Hawaiian language has the deepest roots in the islands and is important to the local population.

How to speak hawaiian pidgin english