Forum

Grammar Error in Business name

Posted by Wil on September 27, 2010 at 7:58pm in Culture
Aloha everyone -

I am starting a new business, and I had my heart set on one name, but it was taken. It's a noun and adjective, and I decided to use the same words, but in a different order, just like Lanikai. My question to all the kanaka maoli is, would this offend you? I don't mean to disrespect the culture at all, and I found out after I mailed my application that it was incorrect (I went on the example of Lanikai to justify my choice to invert the words.) I speak four languages, and in nearly all of them except English, it's not a problem to do that.

 I'm going to ask a Kahuna to bless the business and name, too...

Mahalo,
Wil

You need to be a member of maoliworld to add comments!

Tags: language
Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Wil October 5, 2010 at 12:58am
    Hey thanks for the input, folks -

    I managed to find a really helpful lady at the DCCA and she actually crossed out the words on my application and re-wrote them the right way, so I've nothing to worry about :)

    Be well, everyone. Aloha!
    --Wil
  • Kaohi September 27, 2010 at 8:17pm
    Sorry , Wil not sure what it is you want as far a name mistake, taken, or a new. It's okay to use a place name Lanikai which is in Kailua town on Oahu near the beach. Many old Na Kanaka still lives there within a more recent settlement of outsiders.
    • Wil > Kaohi September 27, 2010 at 9:54pm
      Ah sorry, Kaohi - Let me clarify a bit...I don't wanna say the name of the business, but it's a 2 word name, one word a noun and the other word the adjective that describes it, and as it turns out, the grammar of my choice of business name is juxtaposed (adjective before noun, instead of the correct Hawaiian grammar of noun before adjective)....

      So, I'm just asking you all if, as Hawaiians, do you think that many people who would see the name of the company, would notice that the grammar is wrong, and perhaps take offense to what could be perceived as a disrespect in my "butchering" the language?

      I'm just askin because I only found out after I formed the company, and I'm a little concerned about being seen as disrespectful...


      Thanks for replying, too!

      --Wil
This reply was deleted.