Popular Hawaiian Words & Phrases Sweet Sixteen: Momona 'Umi Kumaono Please join us: Ho'olu komo la kaua Come celebrate: Hele mei hoohiwahiwa Come celebrate Taylor's first birthday: Hele me hoohiwahiwa Taylors mua loa la hanau Come celebrate Joes 30th birthday: Hele me hoohiwahiwa Joes 30th la hanau Come celebrate the wedding of Bob & Sue : Hele mei hoohiwahiwa Bob a me Sues la maleana Come celebrate our wedding day: Hele mei hoohiwahiwa ko maua la male 'ana Come celebrate Jack & Jill's 25th Anniversary: Hele me hoohiwahiwa Jack & Jill's 25th la ho'omana'o Come celebrate George's retirement: Hele me hoohiwahiwa George's ho'omaha loa Come celebrate Sharilyn's promotion: Hele me hoohiwahiwa Sharilyn's ho'opi'i Come to Tiffany's baby shower luau: Hale mai Tiffany's pepe kuaua luau Thank you for celebrating with us: Mahalo

 nui loa na ho'olaule'a me la kaua Holidays Hawaiian Style Happy Thanksgiving ~ Hauoli La Hoomakikai (pronounced how-oh-lay la ho-o-ma-key-kah-ee) Happy Holidays ~ Hauoli Lanui (pronounced how-oh-lay la-new-ee) Merry Christmas ~ Mele Kalikimaka (pronounced may-lay ka-lee-key-ma-ka) Happy Hanukkah ~ Hauoli Hanukaha (pronounced how-oh-lay ha-new-ka-ha) Happy Kwanzaa ~ Hauoli Kawanaka (pronounced how-oh-lay ka-wa-na-ka) Happy New Year ~ Hauoli Makahiki Hou (pronounced how-oh-lay ma-ka-hee-key ho) Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ~ Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou Happy Hanukkah and New Year ~ Hau'oli Hanukaha me ka Makahiki Hou Happy Birthday ~ Hau`oli la Hanau (pronounced how-oh-lay la ha-now) Happy Anniversary ~ Hau`oli la

 Ho'omana'o (pronounced how-oh-lay la ho-o-ma-na-o) Happy Retirement ~ Hau`oli la Hoomaha loa (pronounced how-oh-lay la ho-o-ma-ha low-a) Happy Sweet 16 ~ Hau`oli Momona 'Umi Kumaono (pronounced how-oh-lay mo-mo-na oo-me ku-ma-o-no) Popular Hawaiian Phrases A hui hou kakou Until we meet again Aloha kakahiaka Good morning Common Hawaiian Words and Phrases Common Hawaiian Words and Phrases You are here: Home / Common Hawaiian Words and Phrases COMMON HAWAIIAN WORDS AND PHRASES: Click on the “Play” button to hear these common Hawaiian words as spoken by a native Hawaiian language expert.

Normal Until we meet again–said to a group A‘ā Land, especially Hawaiian ancestral lands Akamai Love, affection; greeting, salutation; Hello! Good-bye! Aloha ‘auinalā Love of the land; to nurture and care for the land. Aloha au ia ‘oe Modern; Especially relating to hula. ‘Aumakua Ancestral spirit, family or personal gods E Komo Mai Hālau Long house, as for canoes or hula instruction; meeting house Overlooking Waimea Canyon State Park on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

Adopted, to raise, rear, feed Haole A foreigner; Pidgin slang – Caucasian Hapa haole Person of mixed racial ancestry Hāpai Hau‘oli lā Ho‘omaha loa Happy Retirement Hau‘oli lā Ho‘omana‘o Happy Anniversary Hau‘oli Hanukaha me ka Makahiki Hou Happy Hanukkah and New Year Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou Pre-Christian shrine or place of worship Hele To fall, topple over from an upright position Hoaloha Out on a lark, fishing, to wander Honu Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii Normal Rotisserie or 'end-over-end' as in chicken cooked this way. Humuhumunukunukuapua'a The State fish. A Triggerfish. I'a An underground oven you will see at a luau Kahiko Expert. A priest, minister, or an expert at any profession Kai Commonly referred to a long-time resident of Hawai'i.

Kāne Cloth made from the bark of the wauke tree Kapu Sacred, taboo, forbidden, no trespassing Keiki Red hot lava flowing into Pacific Ocean on Big Island, Hawaii Normal A porch, patio, or balcony Lani The flower of the ‘ohi‘a tree Lei A necklace of flowers, leaves, shells, feathers, given as a symbol of affection; Leilani Literally means taro leaves, but used for a Hawaiian feast Luna Parent, any relative of the parent's generation Mālama To take care of, preserve, protect, maintain; Beautiful Pink Plumeria Inland, upland, toward the mountains. Mele Chant or melodic song for hula dancing Mele Kalikimaka Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Menehune Legendary race of small people believed to have worked during the night building roads, fish ponds and temples.

Moana HAWAIIAN EXPRESSIONS HAWAIIAN EXPRESSIONS Aloha to all (including speaker) Aloha kaua Aloha to you (singular) and me Aloha ke akua Aloha to all of you (plural) Aloha kakahiaka Good evening to all of you (plural) E komo mai E komo mai, e noho mai, e `ai a e, wala`au Come in, come sit, eat and talk Komo mai Komo mai e inu ka wai Come in, drink My precious pearl [a beloved person] Noho ilalo Aia i hea kou kauhale? Where is your kauhale? ("Kauhale" is a group of houses that comprise a typical, old style, Hawaiian living situation) Aia i _____ ko`u kauhale. ______ is where I live. He aha kau helu kelopana? What is your phone number? _____ ka`u kekepona. Ma hea 'oe e noho nei? Where do you live?

Good-bye, until we meet again A hui kaua Ke Akua pu a hui hou God bless you and see you later Malama pono (Can be a response to mahalo) He me iki ia I invite aloha to you (An appropriate salutation in a letter) Aloha wau ia 'oe (Note: wau is with a soft "v") E hana me ka ha`aha`a Let us work with humbleness `Ehia ou makahiki?

E `olu`olu `oe/ `Olu`olu Please E pili mau na pomaika`i ia `oe May blessings ever be with you Hana hou To work with the hands Hau`oli la hanau Hau`oli la ho`omana`o Happy Anniversary To set things right, amend, rectify I mua That which is within matters Makemake oe I desire you, I miss you Maui nui a kama All of Maui that belongs to Kama Me ka aloha With kindest regards; warm aloha (An appropriate close in a letter) Me ka ha`aha`a Humbly yours (An appropriate close in a letter) Mele kalikimaka The best (this follows a noun) `Okole maluna Observe, be silent and learn (If words are exiting your mouth, wisdom cannot come in) Welina Maui Island Guide 1/ Okinas and macrons impart important differences in the pronunciation and meaning of words in the Hawaiian language. Due to font limitations, macrons are represented with an underline. For macron usage, replace the underline below a letter with a macron over the same letter. II.

A Brief History :: He Mo`olelo P�kole Origins : ? - Marquesas / Tahiti ---> Hawai`i. Post contact: Hawaiian population was decimated from 1,000,000 to 40,000. Missionaries from New England converted Hawaiian into a written language. Hawaiians soon became the most literate in the world; at one time, up to 90% of the Hawaiian population read and wrote their once oral-only language. Over time, English usage dominated and the Hawaiian language receded; 25 years ago, the number of native Hawaiian speakers was down to ~2000. Like the n�n� , the endangered Hawaiian goose, the Hawaiian language was on the brink of extinction. Pidgin (a.k.a. Hawai`i Creole English ), an amalgam of Hawaiian, English, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Portuguese words, among others, has helped to preserve its words, as well as its grammatical and intonation patterns. In the 1980's, the Hawaiian language (a.k.a. ka `�lelo Hawai`i) was revived with the Hawaiian Renaissance .

Today, there are more than 10,000 speakers and the number is growing. Hawaiian and English are now the two official languages of Hawai`i. `O Ka `Ōlelo Ke Ka`ā; O Ka Mauli" "Language is the fiber that binds us to our cultural identity" We honor our k�puna by heeding them: "If you kill the language, you kill the culture." Keep the culture alive by learning Hawaiian. It is never too late. [eh-(y)oh lah mau kah OH leh loh hah vai ee!" May the Hawaiian language live on! To enhance your learning: h, k, l, m, n, p, w, ` [pronounced: heh, peh, keh, lah, moo, noo, peh, veh, `oh kee nah] What's an `okina? (`oki = cut) + na (a suffix that makes a word a noun).

It is a diacritical mark that looks like " a tiny "6" with the hole filled in." Known in English as a "glottal stop," it signifies a break in the breath, as in "oh-oh." Because `okina is recognized as a consonant, in and of its self, there are eight (8) consonants in the Hawaiian language. Thus, there are 18 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, and NOT the frequently erroneously reported 12 letters . Here is a graphic that depicts the exact representations of the kahak� and the `okina: Graphic, courtesy of The Royal Hawaiian Band Unfortunately, to date, the Internet does not support the faithful rendering of these diacritical marks, although efforts to rectify this situation are underway. The closest renderings of the diacritical marks necessary for the proper pronunciation, spelling, and comprehension of Hawaiian words employ the caret (^) to represent the kahak� and the backward quote mark (`) to represent the `okina, as used on this page. Diacritical marks are important to pronunciation. Use them where they are required. You CAN make them on your word-processor.

Red, yellow, purple, blue, black `Alani, `�kala, ke`oke`o, `�hinahina, `�ma`oma`o Phonetic pronunciation: [ah lah' nee, AH kah' lah, keh' oh keh' oh, AH hee nah hee' nah, OH' mah' oh mah' oh] Translation: Orange, pink, white, gray, green Further your learning: More on Colors Learn to count in Hawaiian: 0 =`ole, 1= ho`okahi, 2 = `elua, 3 = `ekolu, 4 = `eh�, 5 = `elima, 6 = `eono, 7 = `ehiku, 8 = `ewalu, 9 = `eiwa, 10 = `umi Phonetic pronunciation: [oh' leh, hoh oh kah' hee, eh loo-(w)ah, eh koh' loo, eh HAH', eh lee' mah, eh-(w)oh noh, eh hee' koo, eh vah loo, ei' vah, oo' mee] Further your learning:

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Pronunciation :: Ka Hopuna: Uncorrected, gross mispronunciations go mainstream and become virtually impossible to correct. Check out these gross mispronunciations of common Japanese words by English speakers: Words: karaoke || sake || karate Mispronunciations: "carry oh' key" || "sack' kee" || "kah rah' tee" Actual pronunciation: [ kah rah' oh keh] || [sah keh] || [kah rah teh'] Learn to pronounce the words correctly. Hawaiian is too beautiful for it to be trashed with mispronunciations which distort and obscure the intended meanings. Rules of Thumb: All letters are sounded. There are NO silent letters in Hawaiian. Vowels are sounded separately EXCEPT when two vowels are next to each other and the sound is then blended as diphthongs. Stress the "next-to-the-last" sound. Sounds with kahak� and diphthongs are stressed. "The Nuts and Bolts" of Pronunciating Hawaiian Words: Diphthong [dip' thong] = a blended sound from two vowels in a row, as in "ou" in house or "oi" in noise.

In Hawaiian the two vowels are not so tightly joined as in English and BOTH must be "completely executed." The first vowel of the blended pair is stressed more. Diphthongs: "W" sounds like "V" or "W" when it starts a word or follows "a". Examples: Welina! [weh lee' nah] or [veh lee' nah] = Greeting; Hawai`i [hah wai' ee] or [hah vai' ee] "W" sounds like "V" when it follows "e" or "i. ". Mnemonic:"Vei" Examples: iwi [ee' vee] = bone; `Ewa [eh' vah] "W" sounds like "W" when it follows "o" or "u." Mnemonic: "Wou" Examples: w�w� [WOH WOH] = roar; k�wili [KOO wee' lee] = spin Y-Glides and W-Glides: These glide sounds are automatically produced with certain vowel combinations. Hawaiian is not spoken in staccato fashion.

When two vowels are next to each other (in the same word and with adjacent words), smooth out the sounds with these glides. W-glides: Please continue by selecting from the navigation menu below: This site's url is: The following misspells are included here for search engine recognition purposes only: Hawaii, Hawai'i, nene, ka olelo hawaii, ka 'olelo hawai'i, ka piapa, ka piapa hawaii, ka piapa hawai'i, The closest renderings of the diacritical marks necessary for the proper pronunciation, spelling and comprehension of Hawaiian words employ the caret (^) to represent the kahak� and the backward quote mark (`) to represent the `okina, as used on this page. Unfortunately, to date, the Internet does not support the faithful rendering of diacritical marks, although efforts to rectify this situation are underway. Hawaiian Language, Hawaiian Words Hawaiian Language: Pronunciation, Greetings, Expressions, Common Hawaiian Words plus more. Hawaiian language originated with early Polynesians who settled the islands. It has been changed a great deal by outside influences. The Hawaiian language uses only 12 letters.

There are the five vowels, a-e-i-o-u, which sound as follows. There are seven consonants, h-k-l-m-n-p-w, which sound like English. Sometimes “w” is pronounced as “v”. This only occurs in the middle of a word and always follows a vowel. Consonants are always followed by a vowel, forming two letter syllables, but vowels are often found in pairs or even triplets.

Lei COMMON HAWAIIAN WORDS TO ENGLISH Hawaiian `Olu`olu, E `olu`olu `oe Please land division usually extending from the mountains to the sea Ai god, goddess, spirit, ghost, devil, image, idol, corpse; divine, supernatural, godly Ala a road, path, or trail Ali`i a Hawaiian chief, Hawaiian royalty Aloalo love, affection, kindness, also means both greetings and farewell Aloha au ia'oe Afternoon Aumakua family or personal gods, deified ancestors who might assume the shape of, for example, a shark, owl, dog, hawk, plant, or cloud Aumoe white person, formerly any foreigner Hapa a part, sometimes a half Hapai to rejoice; Hauoli Makahiki Hou-Happy New Year He`e a group, club, or assembly Hula the bottle gourd used as a receptacle, dance rattle and drum Iulai Stream Kahuna a priest, doctor, or other trained person of old Hawaii, endowed with special professional skills that often included the gift of prophecy or other supernatural powers Kai, moana the taro plant from whose root poi is made Kamaaina literally, a child of the soil

, it refers to people who were born in the Islands or have lived in Hawaii for a long time Kamaiki Princess Kanaka originally a man or humanity in general, it is now used to denote a male Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian Kane also called tapa, a cloth made of beaten bark Kapu taboo, keep out, prohibited, sacred Kapuna Second (fraction of a minute) Kela 'apopo a porch, balcony or deck Lani the leaf of the hala or pandanus tree, widely used in Hawaiian handcrafts Lei Hole (with a bottom, crater) Luau Hawaiian feast, in the past the word for feast was paina Ma kai thank you; Mahalo nui loa-thank you very much Mahina Preserve (to preserve, care for) Malihini a newcomer to the Islands, visitor Malu lani the spiritual power that the Hawaiians believed to inhabit all things and creatures Mano chant, song, anthem, Merry Christmas-Mele Kalikimaka Menehune a legendary race of little people who worked at night building fish ponds, roads and temples Minuke a loose gown or dress Na a chant that was not danced to Olohe Hole (without a bottom, perforation) Puka an

iani a female, a woman, a wife Wahine male fresh water, as opposed to saltwater, which is kai Wakea Aloha to all (including speaker) Aloha kaua Aloha to you (singular) and me Aloha nui loa Aloha to all of you (plural) Aloha kakahiaka Good mid-day (10 am - 2 pm) Aloha `auinala Good late afternoon (after mid-day) Aloha ahiahi Good late night (after midnight) Aloha po Good evening to all of you (plural) E komo mai E komo mai, e noho mai, e `ai a e, wala`au Come in, come sit, eat and talk Komo mai Komo mai e inu ka wai Come in, drink My precious pearl [a beloved person] Noho ilalo Aia i hea kou kauhale?

Where is your kauhale? ("Kauhale" is a group of houses that comprise a typical, old style, Hawaiian living situation) Aia i _____ ko`u kauhale ______ is where I live He aha kau helu kelopana? What is your phone number? _____ ka`u kekepona Ma hea 'oe e noho nei? Where do you live? Good-bye, until we meet again A hui kaua (Can be a response to mahalo) He me iki ia I invite aloha to you (An appropriate salutation in a letter) Aloha wau ia 'oe (Note wau is with a soft "v") E hana me ka ha`aha`a Let us work with humbleness `Ehia ou makahiki?

E `olu`olu `oe/ `Olu`olu Please E pili mau na pomaika`i ia `oe May blessings ever be with you Hana hou To work with the hands Hau`oli la hanau Hau`oli la ho`omana`o Happy Anniversary To set things right, amend, rectify I mua That which is within matters Makemake oe I desire you, I miss you Maui nui a kama All of Maui that belongs to Kama Me ka aloha With kindest regards; warm aloha (An appropriate close in a letter) Mele kalikimaka The best (this follows a noun) `Okole maluna Observe, be silent and learn (If words are exiting your mouth, wisdom cannot come in) Welina (Can be used as a salutation in a letter) PIDGIN Pidgin is defined by the dictionary as a simple language with an elementary grammar used as a means of communication between people speaking different languages. Hawaiian pidgin began during the plantation days when white owners had to communicate with Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese laborers. Hawaiian words make up most of pidgin's non-English vocabulary.

Local people tend to look down on outsiders trying to speak pidgin. English and Hawaiian are the co-official languages of the State of Hawaii. The Hawaiian House of Representatives has given pidgin an official sanction. Here are some everyday greetings and salutations you can use in your letters and email. "Aloha kakou" means "Greetings between you and I". "Aloha nui loa" means "With much love" or "Warm greetings". "A hui hou" means "See you again". "Me ke aloha mai" means "With my greetings". "Me ke aloha pumehana" means "With warm regards". "Malama Pono" means "Take care of yourself", "Aloha ea e, Keoni" means "Greetings to you, John". "Mahalo" means "Thank You". Before we can present the Aloha word, the most commonly used word in the Hawaiian language today, there are three other words we must understand first. O'hana Ko'kua Ho'oponopono "O'hana" is the Hawaiian word for family.

The Hawaiian context assumes a much grander grouping than English in that it expands to welcome and embrace ALL of the peoples, aunts, cousins, other relatives, neighbors, friends and people living nearby in association with each other. In addition the word O'hana has a hospitality connotation which allows the feeling of family to expand to include new comers to the area. Taken to its logical conclusion, it really means the entire "family of humankind". The concept of O'hana (extended family) has from the beginning been understood by the Hawaiians better than by most peoples of the world. It must be understood within the larger context of Aloha, the gentle word which is the heart of Hawaii. "Ko'kua" means help and cooperation between all O'hana members. "Ho'oponopono" means the just and peaceful settlement of disputes through community arbitration. Now we can begin to talk about the word Aloha. Putting an exact definition on the word Aloha perhaps is not possible because it is as variable as the individuals who use it and the context within which it is used. Defining the Aloha word is much like coming up with a definition for God.

We must understand the surrounding context at the time the word Aloha is used. It expresses sentiments between adoring, loving and respectful people. And it expresses an overall feeling for the sum totality of the community within which individual relationships of love and caring take place. It is perhaps the most ubiquitous word in the Hawaiian language or almost any language in the world for that matter. People use it to express an entire range of emotions and feelings from a simple "Hello" to a simple "Goodbye until I see you again soon" to "Goodbye and farewell forever". Aloha stands not only for love among the O'hana, the extended family of people of the land, but for a love that includes the land itself. The people and the land are inseparable. The early Hawaiians lived in harmony and with respect for the land, the sea and all of nature. The land was their life and its preservation meant the preservation of their people. Nor can one truly appreciate the Aloha word without a thorough spiritual sense of thankfulness and graciousness that radiates from the heart.

On the 'Spirit of Aloha' "Aloha is the power of God (The Great Spirit) seeking to unite what is separated in the world - the power that unites heart with heart, soul with soul, life with life, culture with culture, race with race, nation with nation, (and man with woman). Aloha is the power that can reunite when a quarrel has brought separation. Aloha is the power that reunites individuals with themselves when they become separated from the image of God (the Great Spirit) within. Thus when a Person or a People live in the spirit of Aloha, they live in the spirit of God (the Great Spirit). Aloha consists of this attitude of heart, above negativism, above legalism. It is the unconditional desire to promote the true good of other people in a friendly spirit, out of a sense of kinship. Aloha seeks to do good, with no conditions attached. We do not do good only to those who do good to us. One of the sweetest things about the love of God (the Great Spirit), about Aloha, is that it welcomes the stranger and seeks his and her good.

A person, who has the spirit of Aloha loves even when the love is not returned. And such is the love of God (the Great Spirit). Aloha does not exploit a people or keep them in ignorance and subservience. Rather, it shares the sorrows and joys of people. It seeks to promote the true good of others. Today, one of the deepest needs of humankind is the need to feel a sense of kinship, one with another. Truly all humankind belongs together. From the beginning, all humankind has been called into being, nourished, watched over by the love of God (the Great Spirit). The real Golden Rule is Aloha. This is the way of life we shall affirm. Let us affirm forever what we really are - for Aloha is the spirit of God (the Great Spirit) at work in you and in me and in the world, uniting what is separated, overcoming darkness and death, bringing new light and life to all who sit in the darkness of fear, guiding the feet of humankind into the way of peace." The above is a reprint of a sermon delivered by the Rev.

Abraham Akaka at Kawaiahao Church, Honolulu Hawaii, on March 13, 1959 on the day Hawaii became a state of the Union and just three months before our Punahou '59 graduation. With the permission of Kahu Akaka, some of the words of the original sermon as noted in ( ) were changed to be even more appropriate to these times just before the new Millennium for a prayer service delivered by Jon Larson to a gathering of Native American Indian families upon a special occasion in August of 1997. On this occasion a gift of a sacred 'First Peoples Healing Pole' created by the Pacific Islanders Cultural Association was presented to the Muwekma Ohlone Indian families, the descendents of the first peoples who lived on the lands of the San Francisco Bay for thousands of years before these lands were rediscovered by Europeans. 'Mankind' has been changed to 'Humankind' to reflect the recognition of woman as equal partners with man in the responsibility of managing the affairs of the human race. And the words 'The Great Spirit' were added to honor the Native Americans present and their own historic spiritual understandings. Thank you Rev.

Akaka for these beautiful words which are just as appropriate and meaningful today as when you first spoke these words in Kawaiahao Church on March 13, 1959. Here are some more Hawaiian words that you can use in everyday life. A kahai - Kindness expressed with tenderess. L okahi - Unity expressed with Harmony. O lu'olu - Agreeable, expressed with pleasantness. H a'aha'a - Humility expressed with modesty. A honui - Patience, expressed with perseverance.

And here are some more every day words: Hapai - pregnant Kapu - keep out (private or sacred) Kane - man Ule - male appendage (the sex organ) Ono - delicious (good) Pilikua - husband (not to be confused with Pilikia) Wahine male - wife Hukilau - seine (as in net) Opio or Opiopio - young or very young Hanama'i - Make love (also referred to as "make motomoto") Moe - same as Hanama'i (only go more slow so the wahini she enjoy also) Kala - money Kahu - recognized spiritual administrator of the Ho'oponopono peace process Wai - water (fresh) Kaikua'ana (older sister or brother of the same sex) Kaikaina (younger sister of a female) Kaikuahine (younger sister of a male) Kaikaina, kaina - brother (younger sibling of the same sex) Kaikunane, kunane - brother (of a female) Malama - care Malamalama o ka mahina - moonlight (good for make you know da kine) Nani - beautiful Lani - strong,

 leader, revered one.

Also means "heavenly" when attached to a wahine's name. Pau - finished, completed First names: Kiana - Diane. Kianalani - This is the name Diane Devereux's friends and neighbors have given to her. Could this be the same person who is sending us "Aunty Kianalani's Onolicious Recipes" for our Kau Kau Korner web section? Could be. Pauahi - 'Puts out the fire'. Pauahi Judd believes her family named her for her calm and soothing personality, even as an infant, which tends to remain calm and collected, even in times of great stress and excitement. Kapuamaeole - 'The flower that never withers' or 'everlasting flower'. "It's my Hawaiian name given to me when I was young." writes Audrey Dobson. Audrey uses it appropriately enough in her email name. What a wonderful way to think of oneself, to be reminded every day by one's name of how one should live one's life. Audrey's parents were very thoughtful.

Here are some more first names: George - Keoki For more Hawaiian word translations <== click here Editor's comments: The above translations are derived from my own personal understanding and interpretation of the meaning of these words learned through common use during my many years growing up in the Islands where we used these words in every day context. My apologies to official keepers of the language and to my Hawaiian brothers and sisters if I have misrepresented the meaning, spelling or punctuation of any of these words. Please send me any corrections which I will be pleased to quickly make to the web site. My real intent is to stimulate others to want to spend time learning more about the Hawaiian language. Mahalo, me ke aloha pumehana, Jon Larson Aloha | Define Aloha at Dictionary.com aloha [uh-loh-uh, ah-loh-hah] /əˈloʊ ə, ɑˈloʊ hɑ/ Spell The aloha spirit prevails throughout the islands. Origin of aloha Examples from the Web for aloha Expand Contemporary Examples In the aloha State, Obama has endorsed and cut a radio ad for Neil Abercrombie, the incumbent governor.

Behind the Gert Boyle Kidnap Attempt Winston Ross November 26, 2010 Historical Examples We did ride the next day, and many days thereafter; and aloha proved all and more than the Kentuckian had promised. British Dictionary definitions for aloha Expand a Hawaiian word for hello , goodbye Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for aloha Expand 1798, Hawaiian aloha, Maori aroha, an expression used in greeting or valediction, literally "love, affection, pity." Sometimes aloha 'oe, from 'oe "to you." Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Expand networking (From the Hawaiian greeting) A system of contention resolution devised at The University of Hawaii .

Packets are broadcast when ready, the sender listens to see if they collide and if so re-transmits after a random time. Slotted Aloha constrains packets to start at the beginning of a time slot. Basic Aloha is appropriate to long propagation time nets (e.g. satellite). For shorter propagation times, carrier sense protocols are possible. (1995-12-10) Hawaiian Language, Rich Culture and Diverse Settler History. Enjoy fabulous new images and new information segments added to enrich this perennially popular educational vacation feature! Click straight to little-known stories and facts about the Hawaiian Cowboy , Hawaiian Music and Costumes , the Big Island's Living History Museums , and Hawaii's Sugar Cane past. Along the Big Island's South Kona shore, traditional ki'i totems near Captain Cook guard the place of refuge. Alison Gardner Did you know that Hawaii has two official languages: Hawaiian and English? Yes, you can speak Hawaiian!

Although Hawaii is a paid-up member of the United States of America, it has maintained a distinctive culture and heritage, as well as a lyrical language which is experiencing an enthusiastic revival throughout the islands.� Even with those residents whose heritage in not Polynesian, the common use of traditional terms flows easily through everyday vocabulary. It is refreshingly rare to encounter a non-Hawaiian language street name anywhere in the state, making map reading for the self-drive visitor a very big challenge unless you can carry 12 to 15 letter names of five to seven syllables in your head while you are looking out for road signs.� A further challenge is that most words seem to start with K or W and end in I or A, making them virtually indistinguishable to most outsiders.

Many words, people and place names of Hawaii are dauntingly long and challenging to pronounce, unless you view them as a string of shorter words linked together into a longer descriptive label.� It is only after several glasses of Kahlua that many of us have the courage to wrap such words around our tongues.� One of my Hawaiian hostesses had a four-syllable, seven-vowel name that absolutely refused to fall gracefully from my lips despite numerous attempts to pronounce it over a period of two weeks! Helpful insights to make you feel like an insider when next you visit Hawaii: Back to basics Many tour operators, both native Hawaiian and "haole", use the Hawaiian language as an integral part of their delivery. Lawrence Aki, above, is a respected cultural interpreter and guide on Molokai. Alison Gardner �The breath of life or ha is the very essence of being Hawaiian.

Aloha, recognized around the world as a Hawaiian greeting, means much more than "hi there, how are you?" or "See you later": it means to share the breath of life.� It also shows up in mahalo (thank you) which has equally profound implications in the Hawaiian language.� The traditional name for foreigners is haole, meaning people WITHOUT ha.� This is thought to be because they could not quote their genealogy back many generations, therefore, rendering them without roots or breathless in the eyes of Hawaiians.� Today, the term haole refers to Caucasians only. Water-both fresh and salt-has always been an understandable obsession for island-bound people, and the Hawaiians are no exception.� They reflect this preoccupation in the vast number of longer words and names that incorporate wai (fresh water) and kai (sea or salt water) into them.� The Hawaiian word for wealth is wai wai, equating a reverence for water with worldly riches in general. Frequently encountered words Wahine (women) and kane (men) are commonly used words, especially important when you are trying to decide which washroom to enter.

Pu pu is the standard Hawaiian expression for an appetizer or a snack.� Barmen in particular love to watch the expression on tourists' faces when offering a complimentary bowl of pu pu with their drinks. Kahuna are people in the community with recognized expertise in one of life's specialized subject areas, ranging from herbal medicine to celestial navigation to agricultural techniques, religious practices, and much more.� They are like the PhDs of western society, and highly respected for their acquired knowledge. Kupuna are the respected elders of the society, again a rich repository of traditional knowledge, encouragement and advice for younger generations. Honored kupuna, Aunty Ka'ula, shares her knowledge of traditional culture, language, and skillfully made tools for hunting, fishing, and agriculture. Alison Gardner Kapu is the Hawaiian word for taboo, incorporating sacred or forbidden geological areas, archaeological sites or religious practices, known and respected within the traditional culture.� There are a great many more of these than any outsider will ever realize, as they are just not discussed or shared as a matter of course.

To keep abreast of our high-tech times, Hawaiian language specialists have recently invented a word for "database".� It is hokeo ikepili, incorporating hokeo as the traditional word for a gourd storage container, ike meaning knowledge, and pili signifying relationships.� Nothing static about this language! Visitors learn the art of lei making as part of the University of Hawaii's EDventure vacation learning programs offered through Elderhostel, Interhostel and Familyhostel. Hawaiian EDventure If you really want to impress your Hawaiian hosts, you may wish to learn some appropriate greetings to meet or say goodbye to people: Aloha kakahiaka = morning greeting A hui hou = till we meet again/see you soon Aloha nui loa = much love or fond regards (to be used with discretion) Malama Pono = take good care Mahalo nui loa = thank you very much! CENTURIES AFTER POLYNESIAN HAWAIIANS CAME ASHORE, MANY 'IMPORTS' HAVE SHAPED SETTLER HISTORY TOO! Vacations are more fun when you know the heritage!

The Hawaiian Cowboy Some three to four decades ahead of the American West's version, Hawaii already had its own breed of hard working cowboy known as the paniolo.� In 1803 the first horses of Moorish and Arabian descent were imported from Spanish colonial California, and the idea of cattle ranching as a commercial enterprise seemed a logical next step. In 1832, King Kamehameha III, brought Spanish cowboys from California to train Hawaiians in horse and cattle handling.� As a result, the colorful dress, singing style, and horse gear are more closely akin to the Spanish tradition than to that of the American West.� For example, saddles were deliberately designed without tacks or nails so that repairs could be made on the job.� Even the name, paniolo, is believed to come from espa�ol, meaning Spanish. The ukulele, brought to the islands by Portuguese laborers in 1879, was immediately adopted as a favorite paniolo instrument.

Hawaiian remains the language of the highly skilled paniolo, pursuing a profession with a heritage that is alive and well on several Hawaiian Islands where working and guest ranches thrive.� Though modern paniolos are of Hawaiian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese descent, ranch terminology and communication continue to follow tradition, as do distinctive musical styles that include falsetto singing, yodeling, storytelling and slack key.� Hawaiian Music and Costumes The musical instruments and lyrical styles we most associate with Hawaii did not exist before European contact.� It was Portuguese laborers who brought the ukulele to the islands in 1879.� The distinctive sound of another stringed import, the horizontally played steel guitar, has also been co-opted into Hawaiian music as though it were invented for just that purpose.� Modern hula performances are usually accompanied by ukuleles, guitars, and other instruments, whereas traditional hula, still practiced today with great attention to a much earlier history, is accompanied only by chanting and percussion. The most famous symbol of the hula, the grass skirt, is not Hawaiian at all. It was introduced from Micronesia by laborers from the Gilbert Islands in the early 19th century.

More traditionally, Hawaiians used their own abundant native materials such as long, shiny, flat ti leaves threaded together in a similar fashion. Hawaii's most famous paniolo falsetto singer and storyteller, Clyde "Kindy" Sproat, celebrated Hawaiian cowboy culture as far away from his Big Island home as Carnegie Hall in New York. Big Island History is Alive and Interactive Living History Museums provide an enriching, entertaining snapshot of times past. The Kona Historical Society has developed great skill in creating interactive locations and programs that capture the most colorful, personal and poignant elements of settlement in these most remote islands on earth. Speaking into each important historical experience, the Society often schedules special events and cultural festivals, easily missed by visitors not tuned in to these opportunities, mostly happening along the south Kona coast. Performed on the grounds of the Museum, a touching three-actor play is based on actual accounts of Japanese immigrant laborers brought to the Big Island in the 1920s and 1930s to work the coffee and macadamia nut farms. It tells a compelling tale of physical hardship, cultural isolation, and eventually the successful integration of Japanese Hawaiians.

Alison Gardner Don't miss the Kona Historical Society's scheduled dinner theater performances and walking tours, or the national award-winning Kona Coffee Living History Farm , an active seven-acre working coffee farm first homesteaded in 1900. More Living History projects are in the works! Sugar Cane History in the Hawaiian Islands - An Extraordinary Tale Old varieties of Hawaii's sugar cane illustrate colorful diversity. Christine Faye The first sugar cane plant came to the Hawaiian Islands with the Polynesian settlers, but the early technology for making sugar was imported from China. Over the next 150 years, Hawaii boasted one of the most technologically advanced and efficient sugar industries. Modern labor costs and competition from developing countries have led to a severe decline in Hawaii's sugar cane production until, today, there are only two operations left, one on Kauai and one on Maui. Immigrant workers spoke so many languages that plantation owners created a multi-national language, Hawaiian pidgin, that even stumped the Nazis during WW II.

Gay and Robinson Tours When sugar was king, there was not sufficient manpower in Hawaii to work the fields and factories, so contract laborers were imported into the Kingdom, beginning with the Chinese as early as 1852, and followed by waves of Japanese, Norwegians, Puerto Ricans, Filipinos, Portuguese, Germans, Koreans and Spaniards. Truly a United Nations gathering of workers until the importation of plantation labor came to an end about 1946! With so many nationalities, Hawaii's sugar plantations faced a communication dilemma. As more and more diverse groups arrived, new words and phrases had to be developed for people to understand what was required for their jobs and daily life. Pidgin, a Hawaiian plantation language evolved into such a unique vocabulary that during World War II, the Germans were unable to break the code of the Japanese-American 442 Regimental Battalion because they were speaking Hawaiian plantation pidgin! Until 2008, Gay and Robinson offered an intriguing educational introduction to 165 years of sugar production on Kauai, the only tour of a working plantation in Hawaii.

Gay and Robinson Tours Until 2008 Gay and Robinson offered informative Field and Factory Tours that whisked visitors behind the scenes throughout the vast 55,000 acre property, including intriguing bits of time travel back to when Messers Gay and Robinson launched their enterprise in the early 1880s. Keep an ear to the ground in case these are revived in future. In the 1930s, the introduction of steam engines meant no more hand cutting of the cane. These days, seed canes (above) are the only stalks selected and cut by hand. Alison Gardner As late as 1931, the G and R company "town" employed nearly 1,000 people, and housed more than 3,000 on the plantation with a doctor and hospital, schools, social welfare director, its own railroad and even a melodic plantation band. One townsite is occupied and meticulously-maintained today: a delight to stroll under huge shade trees and old fashioned street lights along wide, pothole-free red dirt roads.

To immerse even deeper in Kauai's sugar cane past, plan to stay at the Waimea Plantation Cottages , a wonderfully diverse collection of restored plantation workers' homes on 27 acres of pristine beachfront property. Many of the cottages were originally built right on this site; some have been rescued from other island locations and added to a generously-spaced collection of more than 50. Each Waimea Plantation Cottage is distinctive and furnished in historical context. Alison Gardner Linked by pathways and manicured lawns and shaded by mature flowering shrubs and towering palms, Waimea Plantation Cottages has made every effort to keep the authentic ambience and furnishing style of these self-catering accommodations -- except for the necessary modern conveniences, of course. This living legacy from the sugar plantation heyday is an ideal opportunity for visitors to literally sleep with history! You are invited to click on the Alternative Hawaii Table of Contents page to explore more article pages devoted to the exciting character accommodations, small-scale tour operators, wellness tourism providers, spectacular bird photography, and other hidden highlights of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island [Hawaii] and Molokai.

This travel article is part of a path-breaking travel-oriented website, Travel with a Challenge, which features articles and advice about holidays, adventure travel, and travel sites for mature travelers planning vacations worldwide. Explore the website via the site navigation menu below to access our acclaimed Travel Article Library , Travel Theme Pages , and Advertiser Links Directory . Learn to Speak Hawaiian | Hawaii.com Learn to Speak Hawaiian By Lacy Varner While the Hawaiian language is no longer widely used in fluency, many words and phrases are seamlessly woven into everyday life here in the islands. And while by no means necessary, it may be helpful become familiar with a few key words. Besides, it’s fun! Lesson one – prepare to see a lot of vowels. There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, 5 vowels and 7 consonants: A, E, I, O, U and H, K, L, M, N, P, W. Lesson two – All vowels should be pronounced with the “long” sound. For example, the a should be pronounced as in the word always, e should be pronounced as in the word every. Lesson three – the ʻokina. The ʻokina signals a short pause in a word.

For example, Kaʻanapali is pronounced ka-ah-napali. Now that you know the basics, here a few of the most popular words for you to practice: Aloha (ah-lo-ha) – a greeting or farewell; love Aloha Kakahiaka (ah-lo-ha ka-ka-hee-ah-ka) – good morning Aloha ʻoe (ah-lo-ha o-eh) – farewell Mahalo (ma-ha-lo) – thank you Mahalo nui loa (ma-ha-lo new-ee lo-ah) – thank you very much Kokua (ko-ku-ah) – help, assitance Hawaii Words and Phrases - ALL ABOUT MAUI Travel Tips What To Do on Maui Local Hawaii Words and Phrases The State of Hawaii has two official languages: Hawaiian and English. English is the primary everyday language that is spoken in the islands, but when you visit Maui you will undoubtedly hear Hawaiian words, phrases, and songs. You might overhear some local people conversing in the beautiful, flowing Hawaiian language. And you will probably see various signs, menus, or brochures that incorporate Hawaiian terminology.

You might also hear bits and pieces of Hawaiian Pidgin, a multi-cultural slang that developed during Hawaii’s plantation era. Pidgin is not an official language–although it certainly can sound foreign at times! Pidgin phrases are commonly spoken among locals and are an interesting part of Maui’s culture. Here are just a few common Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases you might hear (or see in written form) while visiting Maui: HAWAIIAN WORDS AND PHRASES aloha (uh-LOW-hah): a term most commonly used for “hello” and “goodbye”; also used to extend love, affection, sympathy, compassion. The single word “aloha” actually conveys a very beautiful and complex concept. You will probably hear references on Maui to “the aloha spirit.” Or you might see bumper stickers or slogans saying something like “Live Aloha” or “Spread Aloha.” In this sense, “aloha” is a reference to a spirit of kindness, hospitality, generosity, and acceptance. My mother-in-law, a lovely and gracious Hawaiian woman, summed it up beautifully this way: “The state of Aloha can be created in an instant.

It is a decision to behave with kindness, with generosity, wanting to give joy to another.” – Irmgard Farden Aluli a hui hou (ah hoo-ey hoh): until we meet again; a polite way to say “goodbye and see you later” kane (KAH-nay): male (you might see this sign on restroom doors) kapu (kah-poo): forbidden, sacred, prohibited, no trespassing (most often seen on a sign) keiki (kay-EE-kee): child or children (keiki can be singular or plural) kokua (koh-KOO-uh): help, cooperate; for instance, you might see a “no littering” sign by a trash can that says “Please Kokua” If you hear some locals speaking what sounds like an abbreviated form of English, it is probably Pidgin. Full sentences are usually shortened in Pidgin into the briefest and most basic phrases. For instance: “Would you like to eat dinner now?” would become “You like eat?” Some Pidgin terminology requires a great deal of explanation, because there is often no literal translation for the words or phrases.

With Pidgin, it’s all about how the term or phrase is used. Here are a few common Pidgin phrases: Pidgin for “We Are Closed” auntie, uncle – respectful terms when referring to someone of the older generation. Whether or not they are an actual blood relative is beside the point. Similar terms, used in a friendly greeting, could be “cousin,” “cuz,” or “brah” broke da mouth – No, this doesn’t refer to a broken jaw; it describes extremely delicious food or drink (similar to the Hawaiian word “ono” above) chicken skin – goose bumps; not in reference to being cold, but something scary or unexplainable or emotional that makes your skin prickle and your hair stand up on the back of your neck Da kine beach da kine – this is the catchall Pidgin term for just about anything. Similar to “what-cha-ma-call-it” in English, but far more versatile–and a lot shorter, which is fundamental in Pidgin! “Da kine” is like a verbal shorthand that can mean nothing or everything, depending on the context in which it is used.

It can refer to a person, place, or thing, such as “Bring da kine” or “Let’s find da kine.” It can be a noun, verb, adverb, or adjective (“da kine house” or “da kine boyfriend”). It can be used to indicate something good or great: “Ey, dis is da kine, yeah?” Or it can be used to indicate something disappointing or awful: “Ey, dis is da kine, yeah?” See what I mean? “Da kine” is intentionally vague, and its meaning is derived solely from how it is spoken and in what circumstances. Good luck with this one. Ono grinds! Broke da mouth! howzit – short for “How’s it going?” or “How are you?” kau kau – a general term for food no need – A stand-alone phrase that is a polite way of saying “That’s not necessary,” “No, thank you,” or “There’s no need for that.” Example: the waitress asks if I would like more water. The answer? “No need. Mahalo.” stink eye – to give someone a dirty look out of irritation or annoyance.

Hopefully you won’t get any stink eye while you’re visiting Maui. But just to make sure, check out my “Practical Do’s and Don’ts for Maui Visitors.” talk story – friendly chatting; just hanging around “talkin’ story” SHOULD YOU TRY TO SPEAK PIDGIN? NOPE! Pidgin is an art best left to those who were born and raised in the islands. Even for a longtime resident like me (over 30 years), Pidgin is difficult to master. . . but really easy to butcher! There is a natural flow to it that is hard to learn. So, the general unspoken rule of thumb in Hawaii is, if you weren’t raised with Pidgin, don’t try to speak it–you will only SOUND like someone who wasn’t raised with it but is awkwardly trying to speak it. Leave it to the “born and raised” locals. I don’t try to speak Pidgin, other than a few very simple words (like my “no need” example above). I would sound ridiculous trying to do so.

However, my husband, born and raised in the islands, can speak like a proper English professor then slip into local Pidgin as naturally as a second skin when he wishes to. So my recommendation is…listen to it, enjoy it, be confused and amused by it, but “no need try talk da kine story” in Pidgin with the locals! Remember, if you’re looking for places to stay on Maui, you’ll save by BOOKING DIRECTLY through our site with the owners/managers of these great accommodations . Don’t miss my next blog! To receive notice of future ALL ABOUT MAUI blog posts and the latest deals from our advertisers, sign up here . Questions? Comments? Other Maui topics you’d like me to blog about? Drop me a line at Blog@MauiAccommodations.com Candy Aluli, Publisher ©Copyright 2015-2017 Maui Accommodations Guide. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials on this site (either text or photos) without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

If you wish to share our information, excerpts may be used provided that full and clear credit is given to us with specific referral and links to our original content on MauiAccommodations.com. For permission to use content, please contact the publisher . Mahalo! SHARE:

Question: The word 'Aloha', a friendly greeting, is originally from what Island's language?
Answer: Hawaii