Hawaiian culture is quite unique and distinctive from any other state or country. Historically part of Polynesia, Hawaii changed remarkably from other Pacific Islands after the "discovery" of Hawaii by traders. Hawaii now has a strong Japanese and Portugese influence, that mixed with its native Hawaiian background and proximity to Asia, gives Hawaii a vibrant culture. Hawaii has its own music, traditions, foods-from slack key guitar and the ukulele to poi (a form of mashed taro) and kalua pork. 

Hawaii also has its own language Hawaiian `Olelo. In the hawaiian  language there is no "U" - the long vowel "YOU" sound. So, to say ukulele as (YOU ka lay lee) is incorrect.  Even though the letter U is part of the Hawaiian alphabet, along with A E I and O, in proper Hawaiian it is pronounced "oo," like  oolong tea  or ooze.

VIP in Hawaiian are `Okina which corrects the pronunciation of poi ("poy" like toy) pu Kauai ("cow eye") to Po`ipu, Kaua`i, and the Macron kahakō whereby the vowel with the line above is said long and strong.

There is a Hawaiian Language. It is real and so beautiful and meaningful.