Resources
The Pālama Foundation encourages and supports Hawaiians in diaspora to incorporate mea Hawaiʻi into everyday life. From the pīʻapā (Hawaiian alphabet) to learning all the verses of Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī, we aim to support you by offering visual and audial aids to accelerate your learning.
Pīʻāpā
The "Pīʻāpā" is the Hawaiian alphabet, developed by American Protestant missionaries in the early 19th century. They adapted the Latin script to create a written form of the Hawaiian language, primarily to facilitate the translation of religious texts and promote literacy among Hawaiians. "Pīʻāpā" encompasses the letters of the Hawaiian alphabet and forms the basis for written Hawaiian. The Hawaiian alphabet consists of 13 letters: 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and 8 consonants (H, K, L, M, N, P, W, ʻokina). This poster also features the kahakō ( ¯ ), a diacritical mark placed above vowels to indicate a longer vowel sound. It should be noted that while "Pīʻāpā" represents the standard Hawaiian alphabet, there are variations and regional dialects within the Hawaiian language that include additional letters.
Pule ʻAi
This pule (prayer) reflects the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) values and beliefs regarding food, gratitude, and spiritual well-being. It is typically recited before meals to acknowledge the role of food and communal sharing in sustaining vitality, health, love, and care. It emphasizes that physical and spiritual well-being are nurtured through māʻona o ka ʻōpū (fullness of the stomach), pū paʻakai (sharing meals), me ke aloha (with love), and me ka mahalo (with gratitude).
Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī
"Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" was written by King David Kalākaua, the last reigning king of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The music was composed by Captain Henri Berger, the Royal Hawaiian Bandmaster, in 1876. The song was originally the national anthem of the Hawaiian Kingdom and honors King Kamehameha I.
Hawaiʻi Aloha
"Hawaiʻi Aloha" is written by Reverend Lorenzo Lyons, a missionary from Massachusetts who came to Hawaiʻi in the 1830s. The song expresses love and reverence for the land, the people, and the spirit of Hawaiʻi. It is often sung at gatherings, ceremonies, and community events to foster a sense of pride, reinforcing cultural identity and unity among Hawaiians, both in Hawaiʻi and in the diaspora.