Before looking at this dialect of pidgin in the everyday interactions of plantation workers, its important to understand exactly how the language helped in forming a new identity.Įach cultural group experienced a different set of linguistic issues while attempting to learn English and Hawaiian. Set on a Maui plantation the story gives readers a peek into the everyday interactions of plantation workers from a variety of nations. Milton Murayama exemplifies the progress of Hawaiian Creole English and its importance in the formation of identity in his book All I asking for is my body. However, this was easier for all the different cultures as a sort of middle ground for communication. This melding led to speech containing many elements of English language. The creole language that eventually evolved from this contact situation came to be called Pidgin and is still spoken today (Drager). While some peoples had time to prepare and started learning English before moving to Hawaii, others had a complete lack of the language until setting foot on the land. I wouldn’t suggest trying to speak this way to locals, as you’ll probably sound more like you don’t know what you’re talking about, but add a few of these words to your regular way of speaking, and you’ll get an idea of how fun it really is to live in Hawaii.The issue of verbal communication was immense as sugar plantations began hiring workers. A small but hopefully helpful example of Hawaii pidgin. I stay going (oxymorons are always fun with pidgin) over there bumbai (tomorrow) so I’ll tell him.” “Shoots brah, he can fix em up garens ballbarens (guaranteed solid as ball barrings), and he’s way akamai” (akamai-re: very knowledgable, proper). I never fix um yet.” Hawaiian, “My other brother’s cousin’s uncle is the da kine you know.” JF, “da kine what?” “Mechanic”, says the Hawaiian. “I was out Kanaio (rugged mountain area of Upcountry Maui), and now the front end is all kapakai. (kapakai – re: in disarray, broken, disorganized). Example: Hawaiian guy, “Hey brah, you still get da kine truck?” (the word da kine is often followed by a “da kine what?” Since it is used for everything, it really describes nothing.) Japanese Filipino guy, “Oh, you mean the Toyota? Yeah, I still get um, but the thing all buss up” (busted up, broken). Now the next level of pidgin can get complicated because of the addition of Hawaiian words. If no can, no can”, which means, if I get to it, great, if not, no big deal. There is also pidgin philosophy, an example of which is “if can, can. You may have heard them before, like “da kine” and “howsit” (greeting- “how you doing”). Now of course there are the tried and true pidgin words known by locals and visitors alike. They both start laughing and the Japanese Filipino guy says “true that.” His cousins came and wen (re: they went and) throw him in the back of the truck. Also, adding “guys” to the end of any name means friends and family included) “Aw naah”, says the local Japanese Filipino guy, (by the way, everybody in Hawaii describes each other by their ethnic background) “I’m over south side now” “I stay cruzin the beach with Jimmy Boy guys” (if “Boy” is at the end of a name, it usually means that person is at least 2nd oldest in the family) “Aw Naaah” the Hawaiian guy loudly exclaims, “Jimmy Boy over there? Ho bra, that guys nutz! Last time I seen him he was all jagalag(drunk) and was pass out cold in the bushes. You still over with your mother guys?”(re: living with your mom. So this big local Hawaiian guy sees an old friend in a parking lot and says “Ho bruddah, howzit!” (they smash a handshake between their chests with a hug and a slap on the back) “I never see you plenty long time. I’ll substitute regular English so it’s more readable, but keep in mind it’s pronounced differently than spelled. (remember those?)Īnyway, I’ll attempt to give some examples of everyday pidgin in case you visit and have a chance to overhear some locals on the beach or in the stores. I know this because when my pidgin-speaking friends post on Facebook in pidgin, it reads like a badly broken typewriter. The translation of it is somewhat difficult though. When a local Hawaiian is speaking pidgin it usually is with a loud, high-pitched laugh. The different ethnic groups speak it differently also, so it’s a constantly evolving thing. Another 7 to pick up all the slang and another couple for all the jokes.
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