Hawaiian Phrases

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Hawaiian Phrases You Should Know.

 

Hawaiian Language

Hawaii has its own very rich language that you'll hear everywhere, and the English spoken in Hawaii uses many, many Hawaiian words. Get familiar with the words below and try them out loud.

Okina :: "Lanai" isn't "lana`i." "Lanai" is a porch, and "Lana`i" is an island place name. The "`" is a momentary pause. If you tried to spell the expression "uh-oh" in Hawaiian it might look like "uh`o"

Kahako :: Letters with a bar written over them are sounded out for a little longer bit of time than the other letters. The bar doesn't change the sound of the letter, just the duration of the sound.

 
Courtesies
• aloha :: hello, good-bye, (expresses sincerity); love
• aloha kakahiaka :: good morning
• aloha auina la :: good afternoon
• aloha ahiahi :: good evening
• a hui hou :: until we meet again
• e komo mai :: welcome
• kala mai ia`u :: excuse me
• mahalo :: thank you
• maika`i :: I am fine
• pehea `oe? :: how are you?
• Mele Kalikimaka :: Merry Christmas
• Hau`oli Makahiki Hou :: Happy New Year

Common words
• `A`ole :: no
• `Ae :: yes
• akamai :: smart
• hana hou :: repeat, do again, twice
• hapa :: half
• lani :: beautiful
• pau :: finished, "it's over"

Which way?
• kona :: leeward side of an island
• makai :: towards the ocean
• mauka :: towards the mountains, inland
• `Ewa :: on Oahu it means "to the west"

People
• brah :: brother, man
• haole :: a Caucasian person
• kama`aina :: native born person of Hawaii
• kane :: man
• keiki :: child
• Local :: a person whose roots are in Hawaii because either they were raised in Hawaii, or they are native Hawaiians
• luna :: boss-man
• malihini :: a newcomer who lives in Hawaii
• ohana :: family
• pake :: Chinese
• paniolo :: cowboy
• tita :: tough woman
• tutu :: grandmother
• wahine :: woman

Lava
• `a`a :: jagged, sharp-edged lava
• pa`hoehoe :: smooth, unbroken flows of lava
• Pele :: Hawaiian volcano goddess

Hawaiian tradition
• ali`i :: chief, nobility
• kapu :: forbidden (taboo)
• kahuna :: expert, master
• heiau :: temple, sacred site
• hula :: a narritive form of dance, motions emphasize the mele`s words
• imu :: underground oven
• lu`au :: a feast
• mele :: a song, a chant
• mana :: spirit
• pono :: done correctly, righteous, honest and sincere

Modern Hawaiian
• bento :: box lunch
• bumbye :: eventually
• hapa :: half
• hele :: to go, come, walk,
• holoholo :: a stroll, a ride
• kai :: ocean
• kapu :: taboo
• koa :: koa tree
• loco moco :: common lunch food; rice, burger, gravy, egg
• lolo :: crazy
• malama :: care
• no ka `oi :: "is the best"
• `ono :: delicious
• okole :: buttocks
• pu`pu :: appetizers, hors d' oeuvres
• saimin :: tasty soup broth with long-noodles and assorted vegetables and/or fish, etc.
• shaka :: hand gesture means "no cares," "thanks," or a friendly smile. Opposite of the "bird." (Make a fist, stick out your thumb and pinky and waggle at your friend with a smile.
• stink eye :: staring confrontatiionally or angrily at someone.
• talking stink :: telling malicious stories about someone.

Did you know a "hukilau" is Hawaiian net fishing. Traditionally, a net was put out in a bay and later hauled in to shore by two teams of villagers. They usually got quite a catch and after there'd be a luau. These days, a hukilau is an organized community get together at a beach park. On Mainland it might be a clambake or a fried chicken dinner at the firehouse, but here it's a hukilau. Same thing. You eat and share aloha.

                                   

                                    Copyright © 2006 Leslie Tam Slings
                                    Last modified: 10/10/07