Lanai

What is the proper way to say Lanai? I have been told various ways.

Lanai

Lanai - lah-nye

Lana`i (the island) - lah-nah-EE

Lanai

A little off topic but what is the proper way to say kihei?

Kihei = Kee-hay

what about Oahu? I can never remember hahaha

O`ahu - oh (w)ah%26#39; hoo

On another note, I believe Maui is the only major island WITHOUT an `okina. I don%26#39;t believe there is an `okina in Niihau either (but it%26#39;s not one of the major islands).

Hawai`i

Maui

Kaho`olawe (w sounds like a ';v';)

Lana`i

Moloka`i

O`ahu

Kaua`i

All these places have such similar ring to them, its hard for a foreign to get them right!

JCDerrick, thanks for the very clear explaination. The %26#39;okina I find are such a helpful guide for pronouncing things properly. I am very happy that Hawai%26#39;i Magazine just started using them.

Speaking of that magazine, I love their new format as well. I believe the company overseeing it recently changed management (or ownership one), and the magazine definitely has a more local/Hawaiian feel to it now.