Comments on: Online Hawaiian Dictionaries http://www.hawaiistories.com/eric/2007/02/19/online-hawaiian-dictionaries/ Life in Honolulu: it's not all pineapples and mai tais. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:40:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Eric http://www.hawaiistories.com/eric/2007/02/19/online-hawaiian-dictionaries/#comment-2508 Eric Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:47:29 +0000 http://www.hawaiistories.com/eric/2007/02/19/online-hawaiian-dictionaries/#comment-2508 You'd think that the state government would be the biggest promoter of the Hawaiian language, but that hasn't been true until recently. In fact, in 1992 the State Legislature had to <a href="http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/HRS0001/HRS_0001-0013_0005.HTM" rel="nofollow">declare</a> any official rule or policy <i>prohibiting</i> the use of kahakō and ʻokina to be void. (I'm guessing this was in response to some knucklehead state official "correcting" subordinates who spelled Hawaiian words properly.) This year the Leg is considering a proposal to not just allow, but to actually <i>require</i> Hawaiʻi government documents to use kahakō and ʻokina when spelling Hawaiian words (HB1946/SB1052). So far, nobody seems to be objecting. You’d think that the state government would be the biggest promoter of the Hawaiian language, but that hasn’t been true until recently. In fact, in 1992 the State Legislature had to declare any official rule or policy prohibiting the use of kahakō and ʻokina to be void. (I’m guessing this was in response to some knucklehead state official “correcting” subordinates who spelled Hawaiian words properly.) This year the Leg is considering a proposal to not just allow, but to actually require Hawaiʻi government documents to use kahakō and ʻokina when spelling Hawaiian words (HB1946/SB1052). So far, nobody seems to be objecting.

]]> By: Mokihana http://www.hawaiistories.com/eric/2007/02/19/online-hawaiian-dictionaries/#comment-2496 Mokihana Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:40:27 +0000 http://www.hawaiistories.com/eric/2007/02/19/online-hawaiian-dictionaries/#comment-2496 I really like Ulukau too. Since Hawaiian wasn't taught when I was in school, I have been trying to make up for lost time, learning here at home. I notice that the Advertiser uses diacritical marks, but the Star-Bulletin doesn't. Since the meaning of the Hawaiian words can be so different, depending on these marks. it's really too bad that the SB (and others) don't use them. I guess it's habit or they don't want to make changes that might cost some time or money. I think I might be just a tad "grammar police" when it comes to ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, but it's such a beautiful language and to me should be spoken and written correctly, just as you are doing. We need to learn to spell correctly in English...why should we not care as much about Hawaiian? I purchased Guava Graphics' Hawaiian fonts program, and use it all the time for my own personal stuff. It's a great program, and very easy to use. I really like Ulukau too. Since Hawaiian wasn’t taught when I was in school, I have been trying to make up for lost time, learning here at home. I notice that the Advertiser uses diacritical marks, but the Star-Bulletin doesn’t. Since the meaning of the Hawaiian words can be so different, depending on these marks. it’s really too bad that the SB (and others) don’t use them. I guess it’s habit or they don’t want to make changes that might cost some time or money.

I think I might be just a tad “grammar police” when it comes to ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, but it’s such a beautiful language and to me should be spoken and written correctly, just as you are doing. We need to learn to spell correctly in English…why should we not care as much about Hawaiian?

I purchased Guava Graphics’ Hawaiian fonts program, and use it all the time for my own personal stuff. It’s a great program, and very easy to use.

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