While I was driving through the Ala Moana parking lot on the main level next to Target, it was the first time I noticed this “Mall Access” sign, even though I’ve driven past it many times. It caught my attention because the sign is in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Since this sign is in an older wing of the mall, it’s probably been here for many years without me noticing, which shows how long Hawai‘i has been a multicultural environment. Although Ala Moana is a touristy place, it was still interesting to see such a general sign in four languages. The Japanese, Korean, and Chinese all translate to “Mall Access.” Seeing multiple languages layered into a simple directional sign made me realize how deeply multilingualism is built into Hawai‘i’s public spaces, even in areas we overlook.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
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catherine
United States
Honolulu
I took this photo on the main level of Ala Moana, right across from the Lanaʻi Food Court. The sign says “Mauka Wing,” which means “toward the mountains” in Hawaiian. I found it interesting how the mall uses Hawaiian words very frequently in its directional signs. Even the food court itself is named “Lānaʻi,” which is another island here. Seeing Hawaiian used in everyday signage and throughout such a large institution shows an effort to incorporate the language, even if it can sometimes feel a bit inauthentic. Still, noticing Hawaiian in these directional signs made me realize again how multicultural and multilingual Hawaiʻi is.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
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Caroline
Italy
Venezia
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Venezia bottom-up
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Caroline
Italy
Venezia
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Venezia bottom-up
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Caroline
Italy
Venezia
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Venezia bottom-up
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Caroline
Italy
Venezia
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Venezia bottom-up
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Caroline
Italy
Venezia
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Venezia bottom-up
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Caroline
Italy
Venezia
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Venezia bottom-up
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Caroline
Italy
Venezia
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Venezia bottom-up
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CarmenW
Germany
Konstanz
Schild an Toilette
MultilingUniKN
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CarmenW
Switzerland
Fribourg
Plakette an Stadttor
Fribourg/Freiburg
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CarmenW
Switzerland
Fribourg
Regelschild für Brücke
Fribourg/Freiburg
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CarmenW
Switzerland
Fribourg
Schild in Hof Café
Fribourg/Freiburg
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CarmenW
Switzerland
Fribourg
Großes Schild in Hof Café
Fribourg/Freiburg
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Carmen_
Schweiz
Baldegg
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Carlos
Spain
Eljas
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Carlos
Spain
Valverde del Fresno
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Carlos
Spain
Valverde del Fresno
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Carlos
Spain
Valverde del Fresno
Foto tomada en la panadería-pastelería ZEM
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Carlos
Spain
Valverde del Fresno
Baños para chicos (zagais) del centro cultural de Valverde
Lingscape
