HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, PEOPLE, & CULTURE

Welcome to my channel! This is Andy from I love languages. Let's learn different languages/dialects together.

Special Thanks to:
Submitted and recorded by Kai Hale & Leilani :D

Aloha! ʻO Aniki koʻuwinoa. Pehea ʻoe?
Hello! My name is Andy. How are you?
Let's talk about the Hawaiian language.

Hawaiian is a critically endangered Polynesian language in the Austronesian family, named after Hawaiʻi, the largest island where it developed. It is an official language of Hawaii alongside English. King Kamehameha III established the first Hawaiian-language constitution in 1839-1840. Hawaiian has partial mutual intelligibility with Marquesan (41.2%), Tahitian (37.5%), Samoan (25.5%), and Tongan (6.4%). Prior to Western contact, Hawaiians had no written language apart from petroglyphs. The modern Hawaiian alphabet consists of 13 letters with 5 vowels and 8 consonants is based on the Latin script, with words ending only in vowels and every consonant followed by a vowel.

Hawaii, an island state in the Pacific Ocean, is the only U.S. state not on the North American mainland, the only archipelago, and the only one in the tropics. It consists of 137 volcanic islands, with the eight main islands being Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. Hawaii is exceptionally biologically diverse, hosting over 25,000 unique species, many of which are endemic. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park features two of the world's most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Mauna Kea, another Hawaiian volcano, is the tallest mountain from base to peak in the world, measuring approximately 10,205 meters. Additionally, Papahānaumokuākea is the largest marine protected area globally, rich in diverse terrestrial and marine life.

Notable Hawaiians include Kamehameha the Great, who unified the Hawaiian Islands, and Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Hawaiians greet each other with the Honi ihu, or exchange of breath, an ancient practice where two people press their noses together and inhale simultaneously. The lei, a garland made from flowers, feathers, shells, seeds, or hair, symbolizes Hawaii and was historically worn by chiefs to signify rank. Hula, a complex art form involving dance and chants, serves religious, entertainment, and historical purposes. The concept of mālama ʻāina, or taking care of the land, highlights the deep connection Hawaiians have with their environment. Native Hawaiian culture, both before and after European contact, is rich with arts such as feather work, kapa (bark cloth), petroglyphs, wood and stone carvings, and tattoos. These art forms, meticulously crafted and imbued with deep meaning, served practical, social, and spiritual functions.

This video is created for educational, language awareness, and language preservation purposes. It aims to provide valuable insights and knowledge to viewers, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of different languages and their unique characteristics. By raising awareness about linguistic diversity, the video seeks to foster a greater respect and recognition for various languages, particularly those that are endangered or underrepresented. Additionally, it contributes to the preservation of languages by documenting and sharing linguistic knowledge, thus ensuring that these languages and their cultural heritage are not lost to future generations.

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