Search in Hawaiian using Google: http://www.google.com/intl/haw/

On August 26th CNN reported that, ‘Google’s got a new way to surf the Internet, Hawaiian style‘.

For Hawaiian educators, the addition of Hawaiian is a small step toward legitimizing a language that is considered “critically endangered” by the United Nations.

“It’s the capstone of a lot of work,” said Keola Donaghy, an assistant professor of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii-Hilo.

“We’ve been doing this work for 18 years, simply trying to make it easier for people who speak Hawaiian to use these kinds of technologies.”

It marks the first native American language available through the “Google in Your Language” program.

Keola Donaghy spent 100 hours translating for “Google in Your Language” program
Hawaiian is considered a “critically endangered” language by the U.N.
It is currently the only native American language available in Google search preferences.

Here are some common Internet terms in Hawaiian:

• World Wide Web = “Punaewele puni honua” = Network that goes everywhere in the world
• Web browser = “Polokalamu kele punawele” = Program that navigates the network
• Hyperlink = “Loulou” = To link together
• Click = “Kaomi” = To press a button
• URL = “Helu kuhi henua” = A number that points to a location
• Download = “Ho’oilli” = To lift something up and place it
• Upload = “Ho’ouka” = To take something down and place it on the ground
• Browse = “Kele” = To sail or navigate

For correct Hawaiian pronunciations visit: Google goes Hawaiian

These words can be found in our Hawaiian words glossary