[heavenlyhash]

Really depends on where you're from.

OP already mentioned in his area it's phonetically mostly "ew".

I'd say a lot of germanic areas also do something I'd describe as "oi". That'd also make one inclined to use an "an" when speaking.

[asveikau]

I speak other languages where it starts with an E sound. But I'm not aware of any native English speaking place where it doesn't have /j/ in English.