The Hawaiian Islands are unique in more ways than any single person could count and that includes our language, vocabulary, culture, and local diction. Most people from Hawaii don’t exclusively speak Hawaiian — except those who call Niihau home. Although there are a variety of words and phrases from the Hawaiian language that remain frequently used today, not everyone knows about the following 8 Hawaiian language facts. This includes tourists and those who have recently moved to the islands. Therefore, read on if you’re curious to learn more about these facts about the Hawaiian language. 

1. The unique alphabet consists of just 13 Hawaiian letters, half of the English alphabet, including five vowels — a, e, i, o, and u — and eight consonants — h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the glottal stop, called an ‘okina.
Jasperdo/Flickr
2. All words in Hawaiian alphabet end in a vowel and consonants are always followed by a vowel.
Erik Cooper/Flickr
3. The Hawaiian language is one of the oldest living languages in the world and has had a tumultuous history.
MitchellShapiroPhotography/Flickr
4. Unlike many languages, there are no records of ancient Hawaiian letters and writings. Up until the late 1700s, the Hawaiian language was exclusively spoken rather than written. After British settlers discovered the islands, a new system of Hawaiian writing was formed.
Captain Cook Society/Flickr

Related Stories

9 Fun Facts That Prove Just How Isolated The Hawaiian Islands Truly Are

9 Fun Facts That Prove Just How Isolated The Hawaiian Islands Truly Are

 15 Totally True Stereotypes Hawaii Locals Should Just Accept As Fact

15 Totally True Stereotypes Hawaii Locals Should Just Accept As Fact

 You Might Be Surprised To Learn These 13 Famous People Were Born In Hawaii

You Might Be Surprised To Learn These 13 Famous People Were Born In Hawaii
5. After Hawaii became a territory of the United States in 1898, the Hawaiian language was banned from schools and the government, though people were still allowed to speak Hawaiian and there were, in fact, 14 separate newspapers printed using Hawaiian letters during this time.
Mike/Flickr
6. Though Hawaii is home to 1.4 million residents, 6 of the 6 Hawaiian language is considered “critically endangered” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Luckily, there are still many people interested in learning this language.
Eric Tessmer/Flickr
7. Today, Hawaii is the only state in America that has two official languages — Hawaiian and English.
Craig James/Flickr
8. Another Hawaiian language fact is that locals prefer to speak an English-Hawaiian hybrid language known as a Pidgin dialect when it comes to daily life. Not unlike slang used in American English, linguists agree that Hawaiian Pidgin features enough distinctions from its parent languages to be considered a unique form of speaking all its own.
Marcos Ojeda/Flickr

Well, what do you think about these eight Hawaiian language facts? Also, what other bits of language trivia would you add to this list packed with fun facts? Feel free to sound off in the comments below.

Also, if you’d like to take a deeper dive into Hawaii’s unique history, check out this piece about Hawaiian language facts and much more. 

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Hawaiian Language Facts

Marla S. | August 08, 2022

 What are the weirdest things about Hawaii? 

Aside from the unique facts about the Hawaiian language that you just learned, Hawaii is known for some quirky and unusual things too. For starters, Hawaiians love Spam and eat this canned meat fairly regularly. Additionally, Hawaiians tend to let outside creatures, such as geckos, live inside their home as well. To learn more unusual tidbits about Hawaiian culture, take a look at this Only In Your State piece about unique Hawaii facts.

What are the best things about living in Hawaii?

While everyone has their own reasons, there are many general perks about moving to Hawaii that are also worth noting. For instance, from the weather, glorious beaches, and access to water pretty much everywhere you turn, another bonus about making Hawaii your home is the laid-back vibe. You'll find more reasons to fall in love with Hawaii in this Only In Your State Article.

Of course, if you're a history buff, one of the best things about living in Hawaii is getting to learn interesting Hawaiian language facts too!

What are some of the oldest attractions in Hawaii?

In addition to discovering some interesting facts about the Hawaiian language, there are a lot of things to explore when you visit some (or all) of the islands. If you’d like to continue learning about history, feel free to reference this handy overview of top historical landmarks to visit when you’re in Hawaii. 

Related Articles

Explore Hawaii

Featured Addresses
Hawaii, USA