While watching the activity around the statue of Duke Kahanamoku on the web I realized that I have no idea how to pronounce Kahanamoku.

Is the accent on the mo or the ku??

Accent rules are first syllables with a kahako (the diacritical mark that is a line over a vowel), second would be a syllable with a dipthong, and then lastly you default to the second to the last syllable. It helps to break up long words into individual components. Since there is no kahakô (pronounced ka-ha-KO because of the kahak&ocirc and no dipthongs, then the moku part would be be MO-ku

ka HAna MOku

Confused yet?

here today gone2Maui: So, I guess you can add TEACHER to your list of occupations! OSB.

No, Student. I am learning Hawaiian from a wonderful teacher, though.

Wow, thanks for the explanation -- and to think I always thought you could buy a dipthong at Victoria's Secret.

oh geez, thanks al, I almost spit out my lunch from the laughing!