Would anybody be interested in trying a thread in the Hawaiian language? Or about the Hawaiian language? It could be anything at all, from asking questions about the language to writing on any topic in it. E oluolu, kou mana'o, which I hope means please, your opinion.
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A Hawaiian Language Thread?
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Yes, I would be.
I'll start with this. In Captain Cook's journal, he mentioned Kamehameha. But the words he used was something like Tama'a ma'a.
Which makes me wonder, which one is more correct?
We like to say Kamehameha is correct, but we can list other examples of how Missionaries or people during the plantation days chop up and translate the words pretty bad. Like last names Ah-Soon, Ah Sing, Ah Mok Sang. Maybe not good examples, but anyhow.
The word Ka and Ta sounds different. Most part of Polynesia uses the words T instead of K. So could some of the Hawaii words be "wrong?"
Any comments to add?
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Originally posted by cabanalane View PostThe word Ka and Ta sounds different. Most part of Polynesia uses the words T instead of K. So could some of the Hawaii words be "wrong?"
Any comments to add?Peace, Love, and Local Grindz
People who form FIRM opinions with so little knowledge only pretend to be open-minded. They select their facts like food from a buffet. David R. Dow
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Originally posted by matapule View PostI would be interested on how the king's name evolved to the popular spelling today. I would guess (I'm not a scholar)that the correct spelling of his name was Kamea mea.
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Another question.
In English, I can take any two words and put it together.
Dog + Food = Dog Food. That would be correct.
Is it correct in Hawaiian?
Wai - Water
Luna - Boss/Manager
But there is no such word as Wailuna. Again, my example may not be the best, but I hope you can see the question
Are new words added to the Hawaiian language? Can and should it be added? How far back should be start or stop?
When the foreigners arrived, there were new items that Hawaiians never seen before, so how did they described it? Creating a word? Or piece it together? If so, who decided back then? A Chief? How did it became "official?"
.
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Originally posted by cabanalane View PostAre new words added to the Hawaiian language?
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Ka= The, Mehameha=Solitary or lonely, Kamehameha, the lonely or solitary one.
(Ke = the for words beginning with K, E, A, O; na = the plural)
Hawaiian as a living language adds new words, for example...
Ka'a = car
Lekio = Radio (Leo= Voice, so Leo Lekio = Radio Voice)
Kiwi = TV
Lolu Uila = Brain Electric = Computer
I think you can combine the concepts of dog, ilio, with food, mea 'ai, into mea 'ai ilio, I think thats correct, but for clarity it might be better to call it mea 'ai no ka ilio, food for the dog.
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Originally posted by Kalalau View PostLekio = Radio (Leo= Voice, so Leo Lekio = Radio Voice)
Originally posted by Kalalau View PostLolu Uila = Brain Electric = Computer
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Originally posted by matapule View PostI would be interested on how the king's name evolved to the popular spelling today. I would guess (I'm not a scholar)that the correct spelling of his name was Kamea mea.Originally posted by Leo Lakio View PostPart of the problem is the definition of "correct spelling." Remember that `olelo Hawai`i was not a written language at that time, only oral; the written form and the pi`apa were developed by foreign missionaries,
Originally posted by cabanalane View PostWhen the foreigners arrived, there were new items that Hawaiians never seen before, so how did they described it? Creating a word? Or piece it together? If so, who decided back then? A Chief? How did it became "official?"
Other words were transliterations. For example sikaleti = "cigarette" or uaifi = "wife."
Yet other words were descriptive. For example, an outboard motor for a boat became misinifakapipiki.......misini = "machine", faka = "(a word modifier) of the type", pipiki = "outside."
That shoulld thoroughly confuse things!Last edited by matapule; November 30, 2010, 10:45 AM.Peace, Love, and Local Grindz
People who form FIRM opinions with so little knowledge only pretend to be open-minded. They select their facts like food from a buffet. David R. Dow
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
I keia kakahiaka ua ike au i elua hoku lele.
This morning I saw 2 shooting stars.
Ua akaaka o ka lewa, no laila ua ike au i Hoku Pa'a, Na Hiku, a me Hoku Le'a ki'eki'e maluna o ke kulanakauhale.
The sky was clear so I saw Polaris, The Big Dipper, and Arcturus high above the city.
Ua anuanu o ke kakahiaka, aka malie.
The morning was cold but peaceful.
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
When Hawaiians first saw British ships they called them Moku, meaning island. It came to mean Ship. When airplanes were developed they came to be called Flying Ships, Mokulele. And airport, Kahua Mokulele, base for flying ships.
Another modernized concept is Shopping Center, Kikowaena Ku-'ai, center (of) shopping. So you can kalaiwa (drive) your ka'a i(to) ke kikowaena ku-'ai.
Kalaiwa au, I drive
Ke kalaiwa nei 'oe, you are driving.
Ke kalaiwa nei oia i ke kikowaena ku-'ai, he/she is driving to the shopping center.
You can also kalaiwa i kahakai, drive to the beach. Hele wawae i kula, walk to school. Holo i ka panako, run to the bank.
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Kekahi mau mea i kahakai
Some things at the beach
One, sand
one wela, hot sand
laupapa, reef
akoakoa, coral
limu, seaweed
kawele, towel
lole 'au'au, swimsuit
aila pale la-, sunscreen
makaaniani la-, sunglasses
nalu, wave
mea he'e nalu, surfer
papa he'e nalu, surfboard
wa'apa, boat
pe'a, sail (n)
muhe'e, squid
nai'a, dolphin
kohola-, whale
niu, coconut
Ua komo au ka'u lole 'au'au hou i kahakai, I wore my new swimsuit at the beach.
Ua he'e nalu o Kawika i kona papa he'e nalu hou, Kawika surfed his new surfboard.
Ua moku ko'u wawae i ke akoakoa, I cut my foot on the coral.
Makemake au e moe i ka malu o na niu i kahakai, I like to lie in the shade of coconut trees at the beach.
Makemake is one of the handiest words, meaning to want or like.
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Originally posted by Kalalau View PostKekahi mau mea i kahakai
Some things at the beach.Peace, Love, and Local Grindz
People who form FIRM opinions with so little knowledge only pretend to be open-minded. They select their facts like food from a buffet. David R. Dow
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
I have not seen the guy in a few years, but I knew a guy who was half Tongan, half Norwiegan, related to the Tongan royal family. He did massage and naturopathy here in SD, a very mellow guy. I'd bring up images of Tonga on Google Images, he had a story for just about every place that came up.
When you think about the distances involved, the difficulty and infrequency of travel, its amazing there is as much similarity among Pacific languages as there is.
The word for breast and for milk in Hawaiian is waiu-. Somewhere I read that the word for breast is the most similar among different languages.
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Re: A Hawaiian Language Thread?
Originally posted by Kalalau View PostI have not seen the guy in a few years, but I knew a guy who was half Tongan, half Norwiegan, related to the Tongan royal family.
The word for breast and for milk in Hawaiian is waiu-.
K, check your PM.Peace, Love, and Local Grindz
People who form FIRM opinions with so little knowledge only pretend to be open-minded. They select their facts like food from a buffet. David R. Dow
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