About Hawaiian

Hawaiian, or 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi', is an Austronesian language native to the Hawaiian Islands. Now recognized as one of the official languages of Hawaii, it once faced near extinction due to the prohibition of its use in schools and government activities in the late 19th century.

Today, the language is undergoing a revival, with around 24,000 speakers. Hawaiian uses a 13-letter Latin-based alphabet, which includes a unique character, the 'ʻokina, marking a glottal stop.

An interesting fact about Hawaiian is its poetic nature and heavy use of metaphors, with a rich tradition of oral storytelling, mele (song), and hula (dance), all emphasizing its cultural significance and beauty.