The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters.



The Hawaiian language was banned from schools after the USA annexed Hawaii in 1899. By the 1980s, there was only about 2,000 Hawaiian speakers, most of whom were elderly.

This decline was reversed when in 1978 Hawaiian was made an official language of Hawaii, along with English, and a revival of interest in the language began. There are now several schools where most subjects are taught through the medium of Hawaiian and Hawaiian classes are popular at all levels of education.

Sample text in Hawaiian

Hānau kū'oko'a 'ia nā kānaka apau loa, a ua kau like ka hanohano a me nā pono kīvila ma luna o kākou pākahi. Ua ku'u mai ka no'ono'o pono a me ka 'ike pono ma luna o kākou, no laila, e aloha kākou kekahi i kekahi.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)


Sadly - While I know how to say several things in Hawaiian (thanks to my mother), I do not know how to say Radio Free Jericho Rocks.


-schumi

(NOTE: Character chart shows both the long and short versions of the vowels.)

I guess you can learn something everyday, thanx.

Hawaiian is a very interesting place and language. We lived there for two years.
Debby