Did you know the correct pronunciation of the area in Hilo commonly called Kaumana is actually Kaʻūmana? A newly launched podcast series led by a graduate student is on a mission to educate people about the meaning behind places and street names on Hawaiʻi Island and how to properly say them. The segment called, “,” is a series of short audio lessons about inoa, the Hawaiian word for name. It is the latest string of educational episodes to be broadcast through podcast, , which debuted in January 2021.
Podcast producer and sound engineer Bruce Torres Fischer is the voice behind the new inoa segment. He is working on a master’s degree in the program at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.
“The pronunciation of names is important because it’s essential in conveying the manaʻo or meaning behind these places we often navigate during our day-to-day life,” Fischer said. “It is also a way to celebrate the rich history and culture of the place in which we live and love, and accustom our mouths to ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian language.”
Fischer points out that it can be tricky to pronounce Hawaiian place names because not all public signage includes diacritical marks like the ʻokina (glottal stop) and kahakō (macron or line over a vowel).
- Inoa Matters:
- Inoa Matters:
- Inoa Matters:
- Inoa Matters:
- Inoa Matters:
Ka Leo o ka Uluau is sponsored by the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo and (NHSC). The twenty-four episode series is hosted by Leilani DeMello, a Hawaiian studies alumna of 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo and Drew Kapp, a geography instructor at . Fischer produces the podcast alongside Hualani Loo, associate director of 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Kīpuka NHSC and is aimed to hoʻokamaʻāina or acquaint listeners to the moku (districts) of Hawaiʻi Island.
Listeners can tune in to the podcast , Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
For more go to .
—by Susan Enright