Action First. Hawaiian Language Teaches Us About What Really Matters
The modern Western world by and large values individualism over collectivism. We have heard that countless times. Even though we all have our teams, departments, tribes, some percentage of our state or nation who feel like “our people,” we usually begin with one of three words: I, me, or my.
It is not all bad. Humans unite incredibly well to solve problems. Whether it is the wagon wheel or the atomic bomb, there is always a good bit of collective purpose and joint effort behind our biggest innovations. At some point, even with blinders on, we get to a simple truth: WE is greater than ME. We know there is strength in numbers and even greater strength in shared vision.
Former Hawaii Governor John Waihe‘e, the first and still only Native Hawaiian governor in state history, speaks to this when he talks about growing up in Honoka‘a.
“When we were growing up in Honaka‘a, we had this phrase, ‘us guys.’ Saying ‘us guys’ from Honoka‘a is saying we have a relationship that goes beyond friendship. We have an obligation to keep it special.”
Waihe‘e also knew the power in making “us” bigger. Expanding the circle. Bringing more people around shared values and shared vision.
But underneath all this, which I wrote about previously in my piece on Kākou, there is something deeper at play, and it starts with our language.
Language Shapes Culture. Culture Shapes Behavior.
Most human languages follow a Subject Verb Object pattern. Around 87 percent of them begin sentences with the speaker: I, me, my. And we definitely use those personal pronouns far more often than we or us in English.
Hawaiian is different. In Hawaiian, the verb comes first. The action leads the sentence. The doing takes priority over the doer. It might seem like a small detail, but this places the primacy on what is being done, not who is doing it.
Other VSO languages include Classical Arabic, Biblical Hebrew, Ancient Egyptian, Mayan, Celtic, Filipino, and most Polynesian languages. It is a fascinating list, but the essential point is simple.
The structure of a language directs attention. What comes first becomes what matters most.
Kamehameha encouraged his warriors into battle with, Imua e na poki‘i. Forward my brothers. Even in English, when we want to give a statement gravity or honor, we often lead with the verb.
Charge.
Go away.
Honored to be here.
With this ring, I thee wed.
When the verb comes first, something shifts. The doing takes center stage. The action becomes the anchor and the sails.
Why This Matters for Modern Leadership
Most modern business problems are not about intelligence. They are about alignment. They are about getting people to care, to move together, to commit to a shared direction.
If our default language constantly centers the self, then our default behavior often follows. We lead from the I, rather than the action or the collective. Hawaiian reminds us that the work comes before the ego.
When we foreground the action, we naturally invite others into it. We move from “my idea” to “our effort,” from “my success” to “our progress.”
The doing becomes a shared space.
This is not a linguistic trick. It is a leadership lens.
Practical Ways to Apply This Today
You do not have to become fluent in Hawaiian to shift your focus (although it would be incredible if everyone did! It was the language of not just the people but the entire Hawaiian monarchy, Courts, and business far after Westerners came to Hawaii).
You can apply the underlying principle right inside your English sentences. Try these approaches in your writing, your meetings, and your decision-making.
1. Move the “I am” to the end of the sentence.
It will not always fit, and you do not need to sound like Yoda or Shakespeare, but experiment. See how it feels.
Proud of what you have done, I am.
Humbled and honored to have your attention.
Looking forward to spending time together.
Per my last email. (If the shoe fits.)
The point is not to sound poetic. The point is to notice how different it feels to center the action first.
2. Pay attention to your own patterns.
If nearly every sentence starts with I, me, or my, pause. It is not a bad thing, but it is a signal. It tells you where your mental energy is going and where your attention is anchored.
3. Pay attention to others too.
When someone begins every sentence with I or me, it often means they want you to know that what they are saying is important to them, even if they do not realize it. When someone uses verb-first phrasing, you can feel the gravity. You can feel the pull toward action.
4. Shift the focus of your leadership conversations.
Try beginning with what needs to be done rather than who needs to do it. You are not removing the person from the work. You are elevating the purpose above the ego.
When a boss tells an employee to do something, we expect it to get done, if not by that employee then surely by another. Leaders who place action first invite shared ownership rather than assigned obligation.
The Big Lesson
Hawaiian grammar is not just grammar. It is a worldview. It reminds us that action precedes identity. What we do shapes who we are, and what we do together shapes what becomes possible.
If we want stronger teams, deeper collaboration, more aligned organizations, and leadership cultures built on shared purpose, we start by shifting where we place our attention.
Put the action first. The rest will follow.