HONOLULU (KHON2) – In the ahupuaʻa of Waipiʻo, which lies in the moku of ʻEwa here on Oʻahu, stands a dead-end street whose name could mean “to surround,” refer to the beginning of a song, or translate as “pronunciation.”
We are speaking of Puana St.
In Hawaiian language, or ma ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi , pronunciation is very important because it could change the meaning of a word.
For example, the word ʻāina .
As we commonly see it spelt and hear it spoken today, ʻāina can be translated as “land or earth.”
If ʻaina is spelt without the kahakō marker which would emphasize the sound of the vowel its placed over, then it could mean “meal.”
If the kahakō is placed over the last vowel instead adding the emphasis there, ʻainā could mean “sore or aching” as from exercising.
Or, if aina is spelt with neither the kahakō nor the ʻokina , no emphasis is given which would translate as “sexual intercourse.”
Proper pronunciation is important, but it is also important to keep in mind that Hawaiian language includes different dialects, Niʻihau language as an example.