11-07-2011, 07:49 PM
And Dayna, don't get overwhelmed...the longer you're here, the easier it'll become. I still have strong memories of our earlier visits when we'd be out driving and my partner would say "You need to turn right onto Ka-ma-aye-a-m... that road we just passed." After a while you'll start to see patterns in the names and words, and they become easier to sound out (and remember).
In addition to Hawaiian, you'll also need to become conversant in pidgin, the local dialect. But while it's respectful to learn (and use) commonly used Hawaiian words, I've decided that when it comes to pidgin, it's respectful to understand it, but not to try to speak it. (I'd be interested to hear others' opinions on that topic). Whenever I've witnessed non-locals (of any ethnicity) try to speak pidgin, it always seems like a caricature, not a respectful discussion.
In addition to Hawaiian, you'll also need to become conversant in pidgin, the local dialect. But while it's respectful to learn (and use) commonly used Hawaiian words, I've decided that when it comes to pidgin, it's respectful to understand it, but not to try to speak it. (I'd be interested to hear others' opinions on that topic). Whenever I've witnessed non-locals (of any ethnicity) try to speak pidgin, it always seems like a caricature, not a respectful discussion.