If you're planning a trip to the islands, you might be wondering: what language do they speak in Hawaiʻi? The short answer is English, but that's only part of the story. Hawaiʻi is the only U.S. state with two official languages — English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian) — and everyday conversation is also flavored by Hawaiian Pidgin, a creole language born on the plantations.
English: The Everyday Language
English is what you'll hear and use most often, in restaurants, hotels, and shops across every island. Road signs, menus, and business names are in English, so visitors won't have trouble getting around.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: The Native Language
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is the indigenous Polynesian language of the islands. It nearly disappeared in the 20th century after being banned from schools in 1896, but a cultural revival beginning in the 1970s brought it back through Hawaiian-immersion schools, university programs, and community effort. Today you'll see and hear ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi everywhere: in place names like Kalākaua and Kailua, in words that have entered everyday English like aloha, mahalo, and ʻohana, and in songs, chants, and hula.
Hawaiian Pidgin: The Local Voice
Hawaiian Pidgin (Hawaiʻi Creole English) developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s as plantation workers from Hawaiʻi, Japan, China, Portugal, the Philippines, and beyond needed a common way to communicate. It blends English vocabulary with Hawaiian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Cantonese influences and grammar patterns. Pidgin isn't "broken English" — linguists recognize it as its own language with consistent grammar, and it's a source of local identity and pride. You'll hear phrases like "da kine," "brah," and "talk story" in daily life across the islands.
A Few Hawaiian Words Every Visitor Should Know
- Aloha — hello, goodbye, love
- Mahalo — thank you
- ʻOhana — family
- Mauka / Makai — toward the mountains / toward the ocean, used constantly for directions
- Pau — finished, done
Understanding this layered Hawaiian language and slang makes a trip to the islands feel richer — you'll start to notice it in conversations, on menus, and in the names of the places you visit.
Bring the islands home: Explore our Hawaiian Phrases & Slang Collection — original designs from our Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. Here are a few of the newest additions:
Brah Hawaii Local Slang Tee — a nod to one of Pidgin's most iconic words.
Talk Story Tee — celebrating the local art of slowing down and sharing stories.
No Rain No Rainbow Tee — five words of island wisdom.