BASIC HAWAIIAN WORDS & PHRASES
A Hui Hou – Until we meet again | Kane – man |
‘Aina – land | Kahuna – priest, minister or expert any any profession |
Ali’i – royalty | Kapuna – grandparent, elder, respected older person |
Aloha – hello, goodbye, love | Keiki – child |
Aloha nui loa – with very much love | Kokua - help |
E Komo Mai – welcome | Kumu – teacher |
Hale – house | Mahalo – thank you |
Hana - work | Makua- parent |
Hana Hou – encore, do it again, repeat, once more | Malihini – stranger, tourist, foreigner |
Haole – white person, Caucasian | Mele Kalikimaka - Merry Christmas |
Hapa - mixed race | No Ka Oi – the best, none better |
Hau’oli Makahiki - Happy New Year | O’hana - family |
Hau’oli La Hanau - Happy Birthday | Ono – delicious |
Honu – sea turtle | Pau – done, finished, over with |
Lana’i – porch, patio or balcony | Pau Hana – end of the work day, work is done, happy hour |
Lei – necklace made of flowers, leaves, nuts and/or shells, used in welcoming or honoring people | Pupus – hor d’oevres, appetizers |
Lokahi -unity | Tutu – grandparent |
Luau – Hawaiian feast, party | Wahine - woman |
Kai – the sea | Wikiwiki - speedy, quick |
Kama’aina – (of the land) born & raised in Hawaii, having lived here a long time, a Hawaii resident |
HAWAIIAN GEOGRAPHY & REAL ESTATE TERMS
Many of these words are used as (or as parts of) place names, street names, housing developments, etc. Learn these and you will always know where you are going!
Aku – directional, away (from me)
Akau – North
Awaawa – valley
‘Aina – the earth or land (that feeds)
Ala – road or path, often used in street names, such as “Ala Moana”
Caldera – A geographic feature formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption (actually, not a Hawaiian word, comes from a Spanish word)
Ewa – used as a direction, to the West or Leeward side of the island of Oahu (i.e., toward Ewa Beach)
Haku’aina – landlord, landowner
Halau – school, meeting house
Hale – house or building
Hanauma – curved bay
Hawai’i – the 50th State of the US, comprised of a chain of 7 islands; also, the largest island of the Hawaiian island chain, also known as “the Big Island”
Helu – number
Hema – South
Hikina – East
Honolulu – the capital of and most populated city in the State of Hawaii, located on the island of Oahu
Iki – small
Kahakai - beach
Kahawai – stream
Kai - sea
Kailua (Town) – city on Oahu, meaning “two seas,” not to be confused with Kailua-Kona, the city named Kailua in the Kona region of the Big Island (Hawai’i).
Kama’aina – local person, native, resident of Hawai’i
Kaua’i – The Eastern-most island of the Hawaiian island chain, known as the Garden Isle
Koko – used as a direction, to the East or Windward side of the island of Oahu (i.e., toward the Kokohead Crater)
Komohana – West
Kona – Leeward
Ko’olau – Windward, the name of shield volcano that formed the Ko’olau Mountain Range on O’ahu
Lani – heaven
Lana’i – porch, balcony or veranda - one of the Hawaiian Islands
Lua – restroom; crater
Lumi kuke – kitchen
Makai – toward the sea
Makani – wind
Mauka – toward the mountains
Malahini – visitor, tourist, foreigner
Mauna – mountain
Moana – ocean
Moku - island
Nani – beautiful
Nui – big or large
‘Ohana – a separate living unit, attached to or on the property of another home, usually for extended family.
O’ahu – the State of Hawaii’s most populated island, known as the Gathering Place, second from the left in the Hawaiian island chain
Pa’a’aina – landholder
Pali – cliff or cliffs
Pohaku – rock
Pu’u – hill
Wai – fresh water, river
Wai’ele - waterfall
Wakea – sky
Ua – Rain
All information on this site is believed to be reliable but is expressly not guaranteed. Blog Posts by various authors are the opinions of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the position of Home Shoppe Hawaii or other contributors. This blog does not give legal or tax advice and readers are encouraged to check with licensed professionals for advice on any specific topic and to verify any information herein. Questions? Please contact Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn at 808-721-8088.
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