Hawaiians primarily speak three languages:
- Hawaiian language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi): This is the indigenous Polynesian language of Hawaiʻi and one of the two official state languages alongside English. It is historically the language of Native Hawaiians and is currently being revitalized through education and cultural efforts. However, it is considered critically endangered, with only about 2,000 to 24,000 speakers, many of whom speak it as a second language. The island of Niʻihau is unique in that Hawaiian is still the primary language spoken there by about 200 residents
- English: English is the other official language of Hawaiʻi and is widely spoken across the state.
- Hawaiian Pidgin (Hawaiʻi Creole English): This is an English-based creole language that developed historically on plantations as a lingua franca among workers from diverse ethnic backgrounds. It is spoken natively by an estimated 600,000 people and used by many more in informal settings. Hawaiian Pidgin is recognized as an official language by the U.S. Census Bureau since 2015 and is a common everyday language in Hawaiʻi
In summary, Native Hawaiians today often speak English, Hawaiian Pidgin, and the native Hawaiian language, with many being trilingual. Hawaiian remains a vital cultural language undergoing revitalization, while English and Hawaiian Pidgin are dominant in daily life
