Pronunciation of Kauai?
 

I just saw somewhere that Kauai is pronounced "cow-ahh-ee"...Is this correct? And if it is, I wish I could find one of those little shameful faces to put here.

it is more like Cow-eye.

Cow-AH-ee= forthcoming with food.

The real spelling Kaua'i indicates 3 syllables
kau a i

Which reminds me of my 92-yr old mother's favorite joke:

At a restaurant dinner, a soon-to-be married couple were having their first argument, about where to spend their honeymoon. They couldn't agree on the pronunciation; was it Ka-wa-ii, or Ka-va-ii? They turned to the man next to them and asked: "Sir, please settle our argument; is it Ka-wa-ii or Ka-va-ii?"

He answered, "It's Ka-va-ii of course!"

"Oh thank you sir",

"Oh you're velcome!"

So it rhymes with Hawaii, correct?

I've heard it pronounced both with two syllables and three syllables on tv.

When we were on the island of Kauai, they pronounced it so that it rhymed with Hawaii. So three syllables is correct.

Our friends who live there (have been there forever, gave their kids a Hawaiian name, etc.) pronounce it to rhyme with Hawaii, but say you CAN pronounce it the other way, that neither is wrong.

B-broad, I think there are some people who were there before your friends who might be a more authorative source of information on how to pronounce "Kauai".

Rusty, does displaying rudeness come naturally to you, or must you work at it?

It's kah-WHY-ee. But people have been mispronouncing it for so long, everyone knows what is meant by "kah-WHY".

Offhand I can't think of any set of letters in the Hawaiian alphabet that would be pronounced "kah-WHY".

"Offhand I can't think of any set of letters in the Hawaiian alphabet that would be pronounced "kah-WHY".

Kau`ai

:-D

par-i-dise.

So, I have always said...ca-wah-ee...and I take it that is correct as well as cow?
Makai...pear-ee-dice here in the south!! Love it!!
Rusty, about 90% of your posts are rude as opposed to helpful.

To Bonnie: That is a good question. My thinking is it is natural to him. And as always keep on posting girl! Larry

Nothing rude about my post. It is just a statement of fact. But the responses were certainly rude!!

Well, the Governator has been in California forever and even gave his kids American names, but he still says Kaul-ee-fornya.

Rusty what is your problem? Do you think people can't see thru you by now? Of course you are rude. Iceuu2 has got you pegged like we all do. Need some Kona coffe to wake up?

There is absolutely nothing rude about my post above. If you don't like it ignore it. However, your post, sir, is very rude.

Given your track record Rusty this declaration of innocence is incredible. You have occasionally made informative and witty posts but this is clearly not one of them. Really sir you have this coming because of how you choose to behave. Good luck.