Studying Hawaiian Language and Literature covers A Program That Focuses On The Hawaiian Language And Related Dialects. Includes Instruction In Philology; Dialects; And Applications To Business, Science/technology, And Other Settings. Read on to learn the key facts every hawaiian language and literature student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering hawaiian language and literature programs.
Across the country, hawaiian language and literature is a widely-pursued major, with 21 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Hawaiian Language and Literature Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for hawaiian language and literature students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of hawaiian language and literature programs later in this article.
Programs in Hawaiian Language and Literature emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations hawaiian language and literature graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a hawaiian language and literature program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a hawaiian language and literature major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several hawaiian language and literature degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to hawaiian language and literature tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in hawaiian language and literature careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in hawaiian language and literature can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to hawaiian language and literature.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to hawaiian language and literature.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Salaries for hawaiian language and literature graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers hawaiian language and literature grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 2 different hawaiian language and literature programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased hawaiian language and literature school rankings to help you.
Students interested in hawaiian language and literature, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Filipino/Tagalog Language and Literature | 12 |
| Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.