What language is Hawaiian similar to?

Hawaiian is a Polynesian language, meaning it's part of the Austronesian language family. This family is incredibly vast and encompasses languages spoken across Southeast Asia, Oceania, Madagascar, and parts of South America.

Within the Polynesian branch, Hawaiian is most closely related to:

* Tahitian: This language, spoken in French Polynesia, is considered to be Hawaiian's closest relative.

* Maori: Spoken in New Zealand, Maori is another close relative with significant similarities in vocabulary and grammar.

* Samoan: Also spoken in Polynesia, Samoan shares a common ancestor with Hawaiian and has noticeable resemblances.

While these languages share a common root, they have evolved independently for centuries, leading to distinct differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

However, a speaker of one of these languages could potentially understand some basic words and phrases in Hawaiian with some effort.