Hale Kapu Moʻolelo a Aliʻi Ana — Language Tools
Hawaiian
Translator
Ali'i Ana ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Pocket Translator
Type any English word or phrase and receive the Hawaiian translation, phonetic pronunciation guide, a word-by-word breakdown, and cultural context. Learn your ancestral language one word at a time.
English
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
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About ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
The Language of
Our Ancestors
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is the indigenous language of the Hawaiian people. For centuries it was the living voice of the aliʻi, the kāhuna, the farmers, the fishermen, and the storytellers of the Pacific.
In 1896, the language was banned from schools by the Republic of Hawaiʻi — a deliberate act of cultural erasure. By the 1970s, fewer than 50 children spoke Hawaiian as their first language.
Today, through the Pūnana Leo immersion schools and the Hawaiian Renaissance, the language is being restored. Hale Kapu Moʻolelo a Aliʻi Ana is committed to its revitalization.
1778
First Western Contact
Captain Cook arrives. Hawaiian language is entirely oral — no written form exists.
1826
First Written Hawaiian
American missionaries develop a written alphabet. The Bible is translated into ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
1896
Language Banned
The Republic of Hawaiʻi bans Hawaiian from schools. A generation grows up without their language.
1978
Language Revived
Hawaiian becomes an official state language. The Pūnana Leo immersion schools are founded.
Today
Living Language
Over 18,000 speakers. Growing. The Hui is committed to its continued revival.
Note on AI Translation: This tool is a learning aid, not a replacement for native speakers or kumu (teachers). For deeper study, visit the ʻAha Pūnana Leo or the Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library.
