Celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with Our Memory Games

Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is one of my favorite times of year because it’s a reminder that language lives in the everyday moments and in the small ways we choose to practice together as an ʻohana.

In our home, one of those simple practices has been playing memory games.

A family game night that teaches ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

Our two Memory Games were created to be fun first (because if it’s not fun, keiki won’t stick with it). Each set features native Hawaiian plants and animals with their Hawaiian names — so while you’re matching cards, you’re also seeing, saying, and remembering these names.

It’s a gentle way to build confidence:

• Keiki can start by recognizing the pictures

• Then they begin matching the Hawaiian names

• And before you know it, they’re saying the words out loud from memory!

That’s the magic of play — it lowers the pressure and opens the door for learning.

Why memory games work so well for language learning

If you’ve ever tried to learn a new language, you know repetition matters. Memory games naturally create repetition without feeling like “work.” You see the same words again and again, and your brain starts to connect:

• The word

• The image

• The name
  

And because you’re playing together, you’re also building connection — the kind of learning that sticks because it’s tied to laughter, teamwork, and family time.

Created alongside our own keiki

These games are extra special to us because we built them alongside our own keiki.

Like so many things at The Keiki Dept, it started at home — with curiosity, questions, and lots of “Wait, how do you say that again?” moments.

We’ve used these cards as one of our family tools for practicing Hawaiian together. Sometimes it’s a full-on game night. Sometimes it’s just a quick round on the coffee table. Sometimes a card gets pulled out randomly and someone tries to say the name before flipping it over.

It’s not about being perfect — it’s about practicing. And it’s about showing our kids that learning ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is something we value enough to make time for.

A simple way to celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

If you’re looking for an easy, meaningful way to celebrate this month, here are a few ways to use the games with your ʻohana:

1. Classic Memory Match

   Say the Hawaiian name each time you flip a card.

2. Flashcard Practice

   Pick 5 cards a day and practice them all week.

3. “Can you find…?” scavenger hunt

   Hide a few cards around the house and have keiki hunt for them by name.

4. Habitat sorting (mauka/makai)

   Sort the plants and animals into where they live.

5. Story time (moʻolelo prompts)

   Pull 3 random cards and make up a story that includes them.

Even 10 minutes counts. The goal is consistency and connection.

Let’s learn together

Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is a celebration — and you don’t have to be fluent to participate. If you’re learning, your keiki are learning. If you’re trying, they’re watching. And when you choose play as your practice, it becomes something your family looks forward to.

If you already have one of our Memory Games, I’d love to hear how your ʻohana plays. And if you’re starting fresh this month, this is your sign: gather your ʻohaha, flip some cards, say the words out loud, and celebrate ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi together.

Mahalo for learning with us.