Customer Reviews

A Pocket Guide to the Hawaiian Language (Things Hawaiian)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Length:: 2:22 Mins

*****
This book is a terrific, non-overwhelming first book for newcomers to the Hawaiian language. It is a tremendous value, easy to use, usefully organized, and portable (if you're planning on taking it to Hawaii on vacation). Here is a video about my experience with this book. It is about 2:21 long. Kindly overlook my newbie videocam skills if you don't mind; I really wanted to show you this book even though I'm not great with the camera or the software yet!
*****

This is an excellent pocket guide. The Hawaiian language chapters for the alphabet and pronunciation are easy follow. The Common Words and Phrases are grouped into logical chapters with brief, helpful hints.

I would have given it five stars except that it lacks an index. Because of the layout, a Glossary or an English index isn't necessary but it would have been helpful to have a Hawaiian word index.

A POCKET GUIDE TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE is a small book, only 60 pages, that gives the reader a basic understanding of the words and phrases one might find in Hawaii.

It provides a brief history of the language and gives a pronunciation guide, which explains how to properly pronounce words, and gives common everyday words and phrases that are used in Hawaii.

It's great for someone like me who will be visiting the island for summer vacation, my first visit actually, and wants to learn a little on proper pronunciation etc. of the street names and other words that are used in everyday conversation in Hawaii.

You won't become fluent in the language of course, but at least you'll know how to pronounce words when you see them written on signs and menus and won't embarrass yourself to the locals.