how would you say "from...to...". I want to say "from here to there" and also give a time frame (from 7 to 8). Can I say "de la a la"? I hear that sometimes.

Yes, people sometimes do say de isit la a laba a, or de setè a twazè, de Miami a New York.

From ... to... → depi .... jouk/jiska...

From here to there → depi isit jouk laba a
From 7 to 8 → depi setè jouk uitè
From sunrise to sunset → depi solè leve jouk solèy kouche

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Can you tell me how you would translate "kina yo." I know it is hard to answer this without knowing the context. In context it sounds something like "the locals." But can you perhaps elaborate or be any more precise for me about its meanings and connotations? I am doing a translation of an oral history of an elderly Haitian from 1987. Thanks!

You will hear this type  of expression in Northern Haiti.

1. kina yo (kinan yo) - theirs, or it can be their family

   Sa se kinan m - This is mine; This is my race, my family

    Sa se kinan nou - This is ours


2. Northerners tend to "an" or "a" before their possessive adj.
    for example:
   We usually say:
Liv mwen.
OR
Sa se liv mwen.
   A person from the North might say:
Liv an mwen.
OR
Sa se liv an mwen.

3. Here's another example:
    We usually say:
Sa se papa li.
    But the Northerner might say:
Sa se papa a li.

4. And one more example:
   We usually say:
Ayiti se peyi nou.
   The Northerner might say:
Ayiti se peyi an nou.

So, when you see "kin an yo" or "kin an mwen", it's as if they were saying:  kin an yo → their kin (their own) or kin an mwen → my kin (my own)

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Is there any place I can find some good info on Haitian culture? More than just the stuff about conservative, women do housework, etc...?

Kansas University, Haitian studies website is a good source.
If you have a chance,  do visit some Haitian bookstores in person or online (educavision.com)
And if your area offers it, check the cultural centers or public libraries for upcoming exhibits of 'Haitian Folklife' so rich in tradition and history.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

what is an "aksivil" , thank you hun!

aksivil  (ak sivil) - (from acte civil) a non religious wedding (usually done in court to obtain a marriage certificate)
pase aksivil - to get a marriage certificate

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Hello Mandaly! Thank you for ALL your responses to my many questions! I really really appreciate your help! Here's another... It seems that a final "t" is pronounced differently in Creole than it would be in English. For example, when you say "hot" in English, the "t" sound is made by a little air passing between your teeth. (At least that's my amateur's way of putting it.) But when I hear words like malet, let, ponyet, tet, etc, I think the "t" sound is actually stopped by the tongue touching the back of the top teeth. Does this sound correct to you? And if so, is it true of all Creole words ending in "t?"

Your observations are correct.
Here is a link about a similar question: Sorry for the repeat -- I have a Q about the 't' sound in words like 'timoun' and 'piti'. It sounds a little "cute" to me in recordings, perhaps the proper word is "palatalized"? It reminds me of the way "tse tse fly" is pronounced. Is this normal?

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How can you say in haitian creole: the hurricane hit off the coast of Haiti? Thank you.

Siklòn nan pase bò zòn lakòt Ayiti.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Does komik in "Ou komik." translate as funny or silly? I'd rather not be silly.

Ou komik - you are funny (amusing)

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Is tot the same as totot?

No.

tòt (adv.) - firm, solid, unyielding
1. Li kenbe pye manmna l tòt.
    She stayed close to her mother.

tòtòt - as a verb to suck; as a noun it can be a nipple or anything you suck on.
egzanp:
2. L'ap fè tòtòt ak mango a.
    He's sucking on the mango. (in Haiti we often suck on a ripe mango to draw the juice out before we eat it)

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What is the difference between 'nèke' and 'dèke'? (I put the accents this time yay! :)

nèke - adv: only, just, merely, barely, once, as soon as
egzanp:

1. Moun yo tèlman pè mesye a, li nèke pale yo tout pran tranble.
    People are so afraid of the man, he barely speaks and they all start trembling.

2.  Nèg la nèke manyen bra fanm nan, e fanm nan di misye ba l yon kout pwen.
     The man barely touched the woman's arm and she said he punched her.

3.  Nou te gen chans yè, nou nèke rive nan estasyon bis la epi li vini.  Dabitid, bis la toujou anreta
      We were lucky yesterday, as soon as we arrived at the bus station it came.  Usually the bus is always late. 

dèke - as soon as, once
egzanp

4. Dèke ou peye kontravansyon an yo va retabli pèmi kondui ou.
    Once you pay the fine they will reinstate you driver's license.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

what does the word "dekabes" mean I hear it a lot in Haiti, thanks!

Dekabès (in game of dominoes) - you got a winning hand.

See this post: DEKABEST

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how would you translate "trouve ke " in English? Thanks

twouve ke - it's so happens that

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I was searching for the most common translation for "so" as in--I couldn't sleep last night so I finished reading my book. I know you can use donk, but I think kifè is more common at least around here. Does kifè seem right in this context?

kifè (or kifè la a) does translate so, therefore, ...
It is as commonly used as donk.
And yes it works well in that sentence.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

to say 'to live a life' - do you say 'viv yon vi' ORR 'viv yon lavi'?

Toulede bon.
Ou kapab di toude si w vle.
Ou kapab di tou, 'mennen yon lavi'.

kèk egzanp
1. L'ap viv yon movèz vi.
2. Mwen vle w viv yon lavi ki san repwòch devan lèzòm ak devan Bondye.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Kafe msye koule ak tout ma???

O O!  Msye nan tout sa ki ba bon.  Li nan ka.
He's in trouble.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mandaly, I was wondering if the African board game "Mancala / Mankala" is played extensively in the Haitian Creole culture? It is a staple of board games in my family. Mesi.

Yes it is.  The wari board game is very much loved in Haiti.  If they don't have a carved wooden game, kids may dig a holes in the ground to play it. Haitians call it jwèt kay.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words