Hawaiian Culture

One of the greatest culture shocks for people not born in Hawaii is the language of the

kama’aina, or locals.  Alongside the unique Hawaiian culture and heritage, the spoken

word throughout the state is not the same dialect heard on the mainland or around the

world.  For people looking into Hawaii condos for sale, understanding the words of

Hawaii is almost as important as deciding where to live, how much to spend, and what

to do.  The State of Hawaii’s constitution officially recognizes two languages: English

and Hawaiian.  Tagalog, Japanese, and Ilokano are other popular languages spoken in

Hawaii.  Because so many people are either directly from another country or are

second- or third-generation in Hawaii, English is not the first language for a large

number of local residents.  Nevertheless, Hawaii Creole English, more commonly

known as “Pidgin English” is the native dialect for many locally-born residents.  The

informal way of speaking is confusing to many visitors who struggle to understand

different terms, phrases, and regional lingo.  The Hawaiian language is also starting to

re-emerge, in part due to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs who had established a number

of language schools and classes.  Nevertheless, English is by far, the most prominent

and spoken language in the islands.