| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | of meanings including hello, goodbye, and love. |
| The Hawaiian language is an Austronesian (or | | | | There is also hula, which is a very common |
| Polynesian) language that is the ancestral tongue | | | | Hawaiian dance that you often see at |
| of the Hawaiian Islands, which lie in the Pacific | | | | lu’aus, or traditional Hawaiian feasts, where |
| Ocean. The Hawaiian language is the official | | | | ukulele music is played along to meles (traditional |
| language of the State of Hawaii. It is an | | | | songs and chants), and tradition Hawaiian foods |
| endangered language, meaning that it is no longer | | | | such as poi are served. |
| spoken officially on any of the populated Hawaiian | | | | Today, the Hawaiian language is enjoying a |
| Islands. The native language was supplanted by | | | | resurgence in popularity. Native Hawaiians looking |
| English many years ago. There is one Hawaiian | | | | to reconnect with their ancestral pasts are |
| Island, Ni’ihau, where the Hawaiian language | | | | learning the traditional native tongue. And children |
| is still predominantly spoken. This island is privately | | | | are also being educated in the Hawaiian language, |
| owned, and tourism there is rejected in favor of | | | | as a means of teaching them the history and |
| a traditional way of life for its inhabitants. Though | | | | legacy of their people. The Hawaiian language is |
| English is spoken by Hawaiians in order to conduct | | | | being taught in public schools on the Islands as a |
| business and for political and educational purposes, | | | | second language alongside English. |
| the Hawaiian language remains in the souls and | | | | For tourists, there are Hawaiian language books |
| memories of all native Hawaiians, and connects | | | | available that can provide lessons in the basic |
| them to their heritage. | | | | Hawaiian language. Also, computer software can |
| Thousands of people travel to the island paradise | | | | provide a fun and interactive experience for a |
| of Hawaii every year. It’s beautiful | | | | person who is interested in learning the native |
| beaches, terrific surfing, and breathtaking vistas | | | | tongue of the Hawaiian Islands before embarking |
| make Hawaii one of the most common vacation | | | | on a vacation there. There are also websites |
| spots on the Earth. The residents of the islands | | | | available that offer free, accelerated lessons in |
| share a real sense of history and community, and | | | | Hawaiian. Learning the basics of a language like |
| consider themselves to be ohana, or family, | | | | Hawaiian will provide tourists with an opportunity |
| with one another. Hawaiians love to share their | | | | to gain more understanding of a fascinating culture |
| interesting history, vibrant culture, and the | | | | that thrives still today. Though there will not be |
| beautiful poetry of the Hawaiian language with | | | | any real language barriers for tourists when they |
| visitors. When visitors arrive on the Islands, they | | | | visit Hawaii, learning some of the ancestral |
| are often greeted by native Hawaiian ladies who | | | | language will also serve as a history lesson, which |
| present new guests with a kiss on each cheek, a | | | | will allow tourists to appreciate the culture that |
| friendly aloha! and a beautiful and fragrant | | | | they are being exposed to so much more. |
| lei, or garland of indigenous flowers from the | | | | Traveling to the tropical paradise that is the |
| Islands. | | | | Hawaiian Islands is a chance of a lifetime. |
| Today, there are many words from the Hawaiian | | | | Experiencing the sights, the sounds, the people, |
| language that are still used conversationally and | | | | and the exotic surroundings is likely to broaden |
| informally by the Islands’ inhabitants. We all | | | | anyone’s scope of the world. |
| know the word aloha, which has a myriad | | | | |