September 10th, 2026
In Conversation with Malia Yoshioka: Learning a Language That Was Banned for Almost 100 Years
Episode Summary
Malia Yoshioka shares her unique language journey from growing up in Hawaii as a forth generation Japanese American with its complex cultural and linguistic layers to living 10 years in Turkey, where she learned Turkish through her passion for food. She discusses the history and revitalization of the Hawaiian language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi), her experiences learning Japanese, Turkish and French, and how immersion and personal interests shaped her approach to language learning. Malia also reflects on the importance of respecting local cultures and languages wherever you are.
In this interview:
✅ How Malia learned Turkish through her passion for food (not a single textbook)
✅ The real history of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and its revitalization today
✅ The “bilingual greeter” job that taught her absolutely nothing
✅ The one phrase that unlocks conversation in any language
✅ Why your personal passion is your most powerful language learning tool
Follow Malia on her website: https://shoyusugar.com/
Subscriber to Malia’s newsletter: https://shoyusugar.com/newsletter
Timestamps
01:00 Malia’s background and travels
03:00 Hawaiian language and identity
06:00 Hawaiian Pidgin English and language influences
08:00 School language experiences and Hawaiian immersion
12:00 Learning French and Japanese in high school
20:00 Living in Turkey and learning Turkish through food
24:00 Returning to Hawaiian language as an adult
27:00 Japanese language practice and tips
30:00 Spanish learning and regional differences
34:00 Hawaiian dialects and language preservation
36:00 Controversy over Hawaiian language status
39:00 Future of the Hawaiian language
41:00 Where to find Malia online
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Mentioned in This Episode
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