- The main dictionaary that was in use here, sincr 1865 was Lorrin Andrewsʻ Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language. In 1913 there was a need for an updated dictionary, so a legislative act made provision for “compiling, printing, funding, and publishing a new dictionary of the Hawaiian language, in which was to be given the correct pronunciation of the ancient and modern Hawaiian words.
A new Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language, commonly referred to as the Andrews/Parker Dictionary was published on September 1, 1922. The following is from this book: Molokai. (mō´-lŏ-kaʻi). The Guide to Pronunciation explains that “the glottal closure (ʻ) indicates the interjection of a sound that prevents two vowels from coalescing. In other words it is the same pronunciation as the Pūkuʻi/Elbert dictionary Mo-lo-kaʻ-i/ This dictionary was published thirty-five years earlier.
Spelled in dictionary: Molokai Pronounced: Molokaʻi
- The Niʻihau pronunciation: The people of Niʻihau are Native Speakers, whose dialect is unbroken from ancient times and considered the original Hawaiian language. We asked a well respected professor of the Hawaiian language at the University of Hawaii, Annette Wong, who is from Niʻihau about this. NOTE: THE PEOPLE OF NIʻIHAU DONʻT USE DIACRITICAL MARKS IN THEIR WRITING BECAUSE THEY DONʻT NEED PRONUNCIATION HELPERS. Her reply was that “her Niʻihau kūpuna always pronounced the islandʻs name as MOLOKAʻI, whether or not an ʻokina (gottal stop) was used
Niʻihau spelling: Molokai Niʻihau pronunciation: Molokaʻi
- Molokaʻi recordings – In addition, Mrs. Pūkuʻi traveled to all the islands, except Niʻihau, recording the thoughts, memories, experiences and knowledge of elders. She and her assistant, Eleanor Williamson, visited Moloaʻifrom 1961 to 1967. The dages and names of those interviewed are:
1961 March, April, May – Valdemar & Amoy Duvachelle, Mitchell & Gertrude Pauʻole, James & MaryPoaha, Dan Pahupu, Bertha Aubrey, Kalanihoʻokaha Kahinu, Frances FrazierHarry & Ida Hanakahi, Harriet Ne, Peter Namakaeha, Sarah Naʻoʻo, Samuel Kahuhu,& Louise Enos, Albert Kahinu, Anna Mokuau,Rebecca Uahinui, John & Edith Akina, Emma Alaiki Apana, Maurice & Rachel Dudoit, Rev. Edward Kaupu, William & Mary Jones, Henrietta Neumann, Paul Kuahulu, John Hoʻopiʻi
1964 April, July – Zelie Sherwood, Amoy Duvauchelle Ruby Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kauhi Thompson, Rachel Naki, Rachel Ho;opiʻi, Eddie Kaʻai. Sarah Smythe
1967 June – Amoy Duvauchelle, Fred Tollefson, Haʻahea Hagermann, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Elia
Mrs. Pūkuʻi recorded a total of 46 residents of Molokaʻi, during 5 visits, totalling 14 days., some several times, There was a wide range of people interviewed. Native speakers were interviewed in Hawaiian, some in English only, and some with a combination. The tapes were listened to by a member of the Bishop Museum staff and Molokaʻi was mentioned 319 times while Moloksi only 21 times.. There were also some songs sung during interviews and in every song, the pronunciation was Molokaʻi
Interviewees said Molokaʻi 319 times and Molokai 21 times
4. Also, there was a public Hawaiian language radio program, broadcast from 1872 to 1998, called Ka Leo Hawaiʻi, hosted by Larry Kimura. The program basically involved interviews of Native Hawaiian speakers, with people calling in from all over Hawaiʻi.
You can listen to native speakers from Molokaʻi by going to:
https://ulukau.org/kaniaina/?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&txf=tpIN%7CtpTI%7CtpTA%7CtpCO%7CtpTY%7CtpLA%7CtpKE%7CtpPR%7CtpSG%7CtpTO%7CtpTG%7CtpSM%7CtpTR%7CtpSP%7CtpCT%7CtpET%7CtpHT%7CtpDT%7CtpOD%7CtpDF&puq=A&txq=Moloka%CA%BBi&e=——-en-20–1–txt-tpIN%7CtpTI%7CtpTA%7CtpCO%7CtpTY%7CtpLA%7CtpKE%7CtpPR%7CtpSG%7CtpTO%7CtpTG%7CtpSM%7CtpTR%7CtpSP%7CtpCT%7CtpET%7CtpHT%7CtpDT%7CtpOD%7CtpDF——-Search for Molokaʻi and you can listen to native speakers from Molokaʻi, and every one of them pronounces their island as Molokaʻi.
5. Na Mele no Molokaʻi Songs of Molokaʻi Collected by Kimo Alama Keaulana and in every one of these songs, the pronunciation is Molokaʻi.
Titles of songs collected by Kimo Alama Keaulana
Note: Moloka’i is the pronunciation in all songs
ʻĀina ʻO Molokaʻi composed by Peter Kai Davis from Molokaʻi
NA MELE NO MOLOKAʻI
Collected by Kimo Alama Keaulana
Aloha E Molokaʻi composed by Zelie Sherwood for the Lima family of Molokaʻi
Bayview Home Bill McLain for home in Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi
Hālawa Waltz (Molokaʻi Waltz) composed by Matthew Kane
He Nani Ku Kilakila (Molokaʻi Waltz) “ David Kalaʻau rec.
Hoʻolehua Kinney Clarence homestead
Hoʻolehua Kamaunu Robert HHL area
Iā ʻOe E Molokaʻi Helen Lindsey Parker
Ka Mana ʻo Na Ia Solomon Fuller
Ka Paniolo Nui O Kualapuʻu Julia Akea for George P. Cooke Sr., Molokaʻi Ranch
Ka Paniolo Nui O Molokai Julia Akea for George Cooke Sr.
Kalamaʻula Mrs. Hannah Dudoit 1929 Arr Robt.Kamaunu arrlnNoble arrCmara coll.
Kalamaʻula comp. Emma Dudoit 1928 Johnny Nble collecgtion
Kalamaʻula coll of Marsha L Camara
Kaulana Molokaʻi Cmara coll, unknown,
Kaulana Molokaʻi Alice Johnson
Kawaikapu old song unknown
Kukui unknown
Lei Hālawa Old Halawa School song comp by Edward Kaupu, credited to Matthew Kane
Moaʻula ((Remember Be Surecharles hopkins 1888 Halawa Valley area
Molokaʻi Mary K. Robins & Noble copy 1934, Watkins, Woo
Molokaʻi John Piʻilani Watkins
Molokaʻi Ivy Hanakahi Woo
Molokaʻi Nui Ā Hina Matthew Kane
“Matthew Kane”
My Seet Sweetie unk
Na ʻŌpio O Molokaʻi Ivy woo class of 1976
Nani Molokaʻi Helen Smythe Ayat
ʻOlu O Puʻulani Helen Lindsey Parker
Pākaikai Matthew Kane
Pua Kukui O Molokaʻi David Burrows
Remember BE Sure and Be Tere Old Waltz Halawa Valley
Ua Nani Molokaʻi Old song, unknown
Hoʻolehua composed by Clarence Kinney for Hawaiian Homestead
Hoʻolehua composed by Robert Kamaunu
Iā ʻOe E Molokaʻi composed by Helen Lindsey Parker
Ka Mana ʻo Na Ia Solomon Fuller, composer
Ka Paniolo Nui O Kualapuʻu Julia Akea for George P. Cooke Sr., Molokaʻi Ranch
Ka Paniolo Nui O Molokaʻi Julia Akea for George Cooke Sr.
Kalamaʻula Mrs. Hannah Dudoit 1929 Arr Robt.Kamaunu
Kalamaʻula comp. Emma Dudoit 1928 Johnny Nble collection
Kalamaʻula coll of Marsha L Camara
Kaulana Molokaʻi Camara collection, composer unknown,
Kaulana Molokaʻi Alice Johnson, composer
Kawaikapu old song unknown composer
Kukui unknown composer
Lei Hālawa Old Halawa School song comp by Edward Kaupu, credited to Matthew Kane
Moaʻula ((Remember Be Sure) composer Charles Hopkins 1888 Halawa Valley area
Molokaʻi Mary K. Robins & Noble copy 1934