The newly opened Kalauao, Pearlridge rail station represents how multilingualism is woven into everyday life in Hawai’i. Seeing Hawaiian place names displayed prominently alongside English reminds me that movement through the islands is also movement through layered histories and languages. As I commute from Kalauao to Lagoon Drive (Āhua) and transfer to the bus to reach school, I am constantly navigating these linguistic landscapes and becoming more conscious of the stories they carry. This daily journey makes me more aware of how public infrastructure can honor Indigenous language, promote accessibility, and reinforce the cultural identity of Hawai’i’s communities in meaningful, visible ways.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
44126
United States
Waimanalo
This is the name of a Karaoke bar up in Waimanalo. The use of “Ohana” in this is most likely to catch the eyes of locals and incorporate a more welcoming feel for the business. The intended audience is also the locals of the community. AJR
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
39026
United States
Waimanalo
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41345
United States
Waimanalo
Translation: Children of the Land of Righteousness, Come, come here, Restore the sovereignty of Waimānalo, "The Language of the Menu" by Richard lliwa'alami
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41346
United States
Waimānalo
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41347
United States
Waimanalo
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41348
United States
Waimanalo
Ono is delicious in Hawaiian. Advertises to tourists and locals that there is delicious steak and other food at the restaurant.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41349
United States
Waimanalo
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41350
United States
Waimanalo
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41351
United States
Waimanalo
Ice Cream Flavour Label at Dave’s Ice Cream
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
41352
United States
Waimanalo
Ice Cream Flavour Label - Dave’s Ice Cream
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
39973
United States
Waimea
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
38682
United States
Waipahu
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
38683
United States
Waipahu
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
24897
United States
Waipahu
This is a restaurant sign. “Wat Get” is Pidgin (Hawaiian Creole) or “what is there” in English. Wat means “what” in English and “get” is derivative of Chinese from their sentence structure and has the meaning from this sentence “there is/is there.” I believe this sign is an example of symbolic-authentic because this is a common thing locals say and usually only locals get food from here. C.R.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
38745
United States
Waipahu
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Multilingual Hawaiʻi
47206
United States
Waipahu
N.L
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/highway-inn-waipahu?select=5ZK0GkXuJwdhswhWk5GyEQ
This photo is a flyer menu for the restaurant Highway Inn. It has the Hawaiian numbers from 1-5.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
24948
United States
Waipahu
This is a shirt that says so urusai. There is also the meaning of urusai below in English which say irritating. Urusai is a Japanese word that also means annoying or noisy there is also Japanese characters. This Symbolic-synthetic. R.N.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
24949
United States
Waipahu
This is a shirt that says Chee hoo on it this is a (hwc) slang that locals most likely use at a football game or to up lift the mood. This is symbolic-authentic. R.N.
Multilingual Hawaiʻi
24950
United States
Waipahu
This is a shirt that says Bumbai with the meaning below which is in Hawaii creole “layers brah”. Brah is short for “braddah” which also means “brother” in English. This is symbolic-authentic. R.N.
Lingscape
