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There are common-usage exceptions, such as makai (ma-KAI, with the accent on the last syllable). When you see exceptions such as those, chances are that what has happened is that European usage has fully merged two sounds into one. Proper Hawaiian pronunciation of makai would be closer to “ma-KA-i,” a three-syllable word with the last two syllables almost merging.

Hint for Longer Words: Repetition and Rhythm

Have you noticed the tendency in long Hawaiian words for groups of letters to repeat? That kind of repetition is fairly common. When you see a long Hawaiian word, don’t panic. Identify its repeating letter groups, figure out how to pronounce them individually, then put the whole word together. Chances are you’ll come pretty close to getting it correct.

For example, Mokuaweoweo might throw you (it’s the huge caldera at the summit of Mauna Loa, one of the five volcanoes that make up the Big Island). But look at the repeating letter group weo (way-o). See the word as “Mokua/weo/weo.” So, two “weo”s prefixed with a “Mokua”—that makes “Mo-ku-a-way-o-way-o.” Once you’ve identified the repeating groups, the rhythm of the word comes naturally. Try this approach for longer words, including the state fish: humuhumunukunukuapuaa: two “hu-mu”s, two “nu-ku”s, and an “a-pu-a-a.” Now try it: “hu-mu/hu-mu/nu-ku/nu-ku/a-pu-a-a.” Very good!