

There are more than 130 languages spoken in the state. It shares similarities with Japanese, Portuguese, American English, and many other languages. It developed on Hawaiian sugar plantations in the 1830s as workers from around the globe needed a way to communicate. Hawaiian Pidgin Creole was first listed on the US Census in 2015, but estimates suggest that anywhere from 1,600 – 700,000 people speak this language. Hawai’i Creole, also called Pidgin, is a common unofficial language spoken in Hawaii. Hawai’i Creole is spoken by thousands of Hawaiians. Now, English, Hawaiian, and Pidgin are all common. The Hawaiian language is currently being revitalized, but native Hawaiians historically spoke Hawaiian as their first language. About 200 people live here today, and it is closed to tourists. Niʻihau, a private island that belongs to the descendants of the Sinclair family, is the only place where people primarily speak Hawaiian.

Niʻihau locals speak Hawaiian as their first language. Once missionaries arrived, they worked to translate the Bible into the native language, and the oral Hawaiian language become a written language in the 1820s. Before Captain Cook’s arrival, Hawaiian was exclusively an oral language.

How old is the Hawaiian language?Įxperts don’t know how old the Hawaiian language is, but linguists agree that it developed out of other Polynesian languages. While Hawaiian speakers may be able to communicate with other Polynesian language speakers on a basic level, the languages are not interchangeable.įor example, the word aloha is found in every Polynesian language, but it carries a deeper significance in the Hawaiian language. Hawaiian is a Polynesian language similar to Tongan and Samoan. The Hawaiian language is called ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i.

This led to revitalization efforts like Hawaiian Language Immersion Program in public schools. Hawaiian was recognized as an official state language in 1978Īfter almost 100 years of being banned, the US government officially recognized Hawaiian as one of the state’s two official languages in 1978. In this article, we will explore five fascinating facts about the Hawaiian language. With proposed legislation to teach Hawaiian in public schools, learning Ōlelo Hawaiʻi at every grade level could have a profound impact on Hawaiian culture. Today there are only about 2,000 people who speak Hawaiian as their native language.Ĭurrently, only English is required to be taught in Aloha State. While the language was banned in schools after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1896, there have been revitalization efforts since 1978. Hawaiian language, also known as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is one of the two official languages of Hawaii.
