How to use the online Hawaiian Dictionaries.
This page explains how to use the Hawaiian dictionaries that are hosted online by wehewehe.org and the University of Hawai‘i website hawaii.edu. I created this page, because my site gets "hits" by people looking for Hawaiian words, since I have a Hawaiian Word Glossary and a Hawaiian Word of the Day page. If you are looking for a Hawaiian word, you may want to visit their dictionary site. It is a nice online resource, but if you are a serious student, you really need to get a hard copy of a Hawaiian dictionary and I recommend the Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary published by the University of Hawai‘i Press. It is the best and most important Hawaiian dictionary.

This page also assumes that you have an understanding of the kahakō (the line over a vowel) and the ‘okina (‘), which are very important to the Hawaiian language for correct spelling and pronunciation. If you do not understand these "elements", you might want to read my article about the ‘okina. Or if you want to learn Hawaiian, I also suggest a handy little booklet called All About Hawaiian by Albert J. Schütz. It is sort of a beginner's primer of the Hawaiian language.

If you want to go directly to the online dictionaries and avoid my explaination, click here.

Illustration #1 below: This gives a basic explaination of the most important parts of the dictionaries page.




Illustration #2 below: This is an illustration of the five reference books that can be seached. When "All Dictionaries" is selected, all five books are searched.




Pukui / Elbert [PE] UH Hawaiian Dictionary. This dictionary is the most important Hawaiian language reference book and the best dictionary. The PE dictionary is considered THE Hawaiian dictionary. This dictionary also comes in a condensed, abridged paperback version called the New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary. Online version. This book on amazon.com and the abridged paperback version.

Māmaka Kaiao: A Modern Hawaiian Vocabulary. This dictionary was intented to expand the Hawaiian language by creating words for things and concepts for which there were previously no Hawaiian words. It is intended as a companion to the PE dictionary. If you want a second Hawaiian dictionary, get this one, but if you get only one dictionary, it should be the PE dictionary. See my review of the Māmaka Kaiao. Online version. This book on amazon.com.

Andrews Dictionary. This dictionary is based on the 1865 dictionary by Lorrin Andrews. I don't like this dictionary, because it excludes the kahakō and makes limited and sporadic use of the ‘okina. Exclusion of the kahakō and the ‘okina was common for early Hawaiian publications, but they are important "elements" of the Hawaiian language. This dictionary is an important historical document, but many of the words are spelled incompletely because they may be missing a kahakō and/or ‘okina. It also makes the annoying use of hypens in the Hawaiian words that are listed. Back in 1865, this may have been the best Hawaiian dictionary, but today I would avoid its use. Online version. This book on amazon.com.

Place Names of Hawaii. A very important reference by Pukui and Elbert of about four thousand Hawaiian place names. Online version. This book on amazon.com.

Hawaiʻi Place Names. I have this book, but I don't use it. I really don't know how good it is. This book focuses on place names associated with the ocean, as indicated by the subtitle "Shores, Beaches, and Surf Sites." Online version. This book on amazon.com.

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