HAWAIIAN GOODNESS
Even for the Mainlander
Start Here!
Don't know a lick of Hawaiian, and wondering where to start?
Here is everything you need to get yourself speaking and understanding
basic sentences in just 30 days, using only free resources!
The study materials are explained and provided below. Be sure to take
(and refer to) your own notes. Online quizzes are also offered for additional exercise, but remember: physical pen and paper are key to learning and retaining language!
Materials (free!)
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Kulāiwi video series
Kulāiwi is a Hawaiian language learning video series. Each episode is ~40 minutes long, and teaches pronunciation, grammar, vocab, and culture. Be prepared to take notes, especially for making youself a vocab list. You can find the videos here.
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Duolingo
Duolingo is an interactive language learning website. You'll need to make a (free!) account in order to access the Hawaiian course. This is where you'll practice what you've learned, primarily by translating prompted sentences.
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Duolingo Guides
The Duolingo Guides provide lessons for each category practiced on the Duolingo website. This is where you'll read about grammar and vocab (in addition to the Kulāiwi video series) before practicing on Duolingo itself. You can find them here.
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Starter Vocab lists
These lists are what you need to memorize before reaching the Beginner level. They are divided into Starter Phrases, Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs. You can find them here.
(Each list also supplies two quiz sites [Quizlet and Memrise] that you would need to make an account for - these are only optional, but are great for studying!)
After sticking to this schedule for 30 days, you'll be able to:
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Introduce yourself
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Command or suggest others to do something
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Ask, and answer, how others are feeling ("How are you?")
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Ask, and answer, the identity of objects ("What is __?")
- Ask, and answer, the location of objects ("Where is __?")
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Express want
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Create basic sentences with Direct Objects
"Review Days" and "Rest Days" are included in this schedule - do not skip them.
Studies continuously show that review and rest are just as important as the lessons themselves. They are key to remembering what you learned!
30-Day Schedule
W E E K 1
Day 1
- Watch Kulāiwi Lesson 1. Take notes on grammar and start your vocab list.
- Read Duolingo Guide #1: Intro.
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list.
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At the end of the page, read the Hawaiian practice out loud;
try to understand the meaning as you read -
From the same practice, write out the Hawaiian sentences onto a sheet of paper
and translate them into English on the same page (without peeking!).
Then, check your answers.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 1, Level 1 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 2
- From Duolingo Guide #1: Intro:
-
From the practice (at the end of the page), write out the English sentences
onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page.
Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, review Unit 1, Level 1
- Starter Vocab list "Starter Phrases"
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list
-
Memorize
- Memorize everything on your vocab list up to this point
Day 3
REVIEW DAY
- Go over your Kulāiwi notes
- Re-read Duolingo Guide #1: Intro
- Make sure you've memorized everything listed on your vocab list up to this point.
Read them out loud.
Day 4
- Starter Vocab list "Nouns 1"
Day 5
REST DAY
Day 6
- Watch Kulāiwi Lesson 2. Take notes on grammar and add to your vocab list.
- Read Duolingo Guide #2: Determiner.
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list.
-
At the end of the page, read the Hawaiian practice out loud;
try to understand the meaning as you read -
From the same practice, write out the Hawaiian sentences onto a sheet of paper
and translate them into English on the same page (without peeking!).
Then, check your answers.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 1, Level 2 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 7
- From Duolingo Guide #2: Determiner:
-
From the practice (at the end of the page), write out the English sentences
onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page.
Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 1, Level 3 until all of its "lessons" are completed
- Starter Vocab list "Nouns 2"
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list
-
Memorize
- Memorize everything on your vocab list up to this point
W E E K 2
Day 8
REVIEW DAY
- Go over your Kulāiwi notes
- Re-read Duolingo Guide #2: Determiner
- On Duolingo, complete Unit 1, Level 4 (this is the end of Unit 1 on Duolingo)
- Make sure you've memorized everything listed on your vocab list up to this point.
Read them out loud.
Day 9
REST DAY
Day 10
- Watch Kulāiwi Lesson 3. Take notes on grammar and add to your vocab list.
- Read Duolingo Guide #3: Greetings.
-
Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list.
-
Read the Hawaiian practice out loud; try to understand the meaning as you read.
-
From the same practice, write out the Hawaiian sentences onto a sheet of paper
and translate them into English on the same page (without peeking!).
Then, check your answers.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 2, Level 1 and 2 until all of its "lessons" are completed
- Starter Vocab list "Adjectives"
Day 11
- From Duolingo Guide #3: Greetings:
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From the practice, write out the English sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page. Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 2, Level 3 and 4 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 12
- Read Duolingo Guide #4: Polite Expressions [this is a very short one]:
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From the practice, write out the English sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page. Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 2, Level 5 and 6 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 13
REVIEW DAY
- Go over your Kulāiwi notes
- Re-read Duolingo Guide #3: Greetings and Duolingo Guide #4: Polite Expressions
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 2, Level 7 until all of its "lessons" are completed
- Make sure you've memorized everything listed on your vocab list up to this point.
Read them out loud.
Day 14
REST DAY
W E E K 3
Day 15
- Watch Kulāiwi Lesson 4. Take notes on grammar and add to your vocab list.
- On Duolingo, complete Unit 2, Level 8 (this is the end of Unit 2 on Duolingo)
- Starter Vocab list "Verbs 1"
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list
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Memorize
- Optional: Practice all Duolingo vocab with this quiz
Day 16
- Read Duolingo Guide #5: People:
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list.
-
Read the Hawaiian practice out loud; try to understand the meaning as you read.
-
Write out the Hawaiian sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into English on the same page (without peeking!). Then, check your answers.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 3, Level 1 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 17
- From Duolingo Guide #5: People:
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From the practice, write out the English sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page. Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 3, Level 2 and 3 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 18
REVIEW DAY
- Go over your Kulāiwi notes
- Re-read Duolingo Guide #5: People
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 3, Level 4 until all of its "lessons" are completed
- Make sure you've memorized everything listed on your vocab list up to this point.
Read them out loud.
Day 19
REST DAY
Day 20
- Read Duolingo Guide #6: 'Ohana:
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list.
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Read the Hawaiian practice out loud; try to understand the meaning as you read.
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Write out the Hawaiian sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into English on the same page (without peeking!). Then, check your answers.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 3, Level 5 and 6 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 21
- From Duolingo Guide #6: 'Ohana:
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From the practice, write out the English sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page. Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 3, Level 7 and 8 until all of its "lessons" are completed
W E E K 4
Day 22
REVIEW DAY
- Re-read Duolingo Guide #6: 'Ohana
- On Duolingo, complete Unit 3, Level 9 (this is the end of Unit 3 on Duolingo)
- Make sure you've memorized everything listed on your vocab list up to this point.
Read them out loud.
Day 23
- Read Duolingo Guide #7: Weather:
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list.
-
Read the Hawaiian practice out loud; try to understand the meaning as you read.
-
Write out the Hawaiian sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into English on the same page (without peeking!). Then, check your answers.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 4, Level 1 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 24
- From Duolingo Guide #7: Weather:
-
From the practice, write out the English sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page. Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 4, Level 2 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 25
REVIEW DAY
- Re-read Duolingo Guide #7: Weather
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 4, Level 3 until all of its "lessons" are completed
- Make sure you've memorized everything listed on your vocab list up to this point.
Read them out loud.
Day 26
REST DAY
Day 27
- Watch Kulāiwi Lesson 5. Take notes on grammar and add to your vocab list.
- Starter Vocab list "Verbs 2"
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list
-
Memorize
- Read Duolingo Guide #8: Household.
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Read the Hawaiian vocab out loud, and add to your vocab list.
-
Read the Hawaiian practice out loud; try to understand the meaning as you read.
-
Write out the Hawaiian sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into English on the same page (without peeking!). Then, check your answers.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 4, Level 4 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 28
- From Duolingo Guide #8: Household:
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From the practice, write out the English sentences onto a sheet of paper and translate them into Hawaiian on the same page. Once finished, check your answers. Then, read the Hawaiian out loud.
- On Duolingo, practice Unit 4, Level 5 and 6 until all of its "lessons" are completed
Day 29
REVIEW DAY
- Go over your Kulāiwi notes
- Re-read Duolingo Guide #8: Household
- On Duolingo, complete Unit 4, Level 7 and 8 (this is the end of Unit 4 on Duolingo)
- Make sure you've memorized everything listed on your vocab list up to this point.
Read them out loud.
- Optional: Practice all Duolingo vocab with this quiz
Day 30
- Watch Kulāiwi Lesson 6. Take notes on grammar and add to your vocab list.
- Go through each Duolingo Guide's practice section and write the Hawaiian translation of the English sentences.
- On the Duolingo website, press the barbell on the bottom left to practice all categories.