COMMON HAWAIIAN WORDS AND PHRASES

Source: http://hawaiian-words.com/common

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

A hui hou Until we meet again

A hui hou kākou Until we meet again–said to a group

A‘ā Sharp jagged lava rock

‘A‘ole pilikia You're welcome/No problem

‘Ae Yes

Ahupua‘a Land division

‘Āina Land, especially Hawaiian ancestral lands

Akamai Smart, Clever, Intelligent

Akua God

Ala Road, way, path

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Alelo Tongue, language.

Ali‘i Chief, chiefess, or royalty

AlohaLove, affection; greeting, salutation; Hello! Good-

bye!

Aloha ‘auinalā Good afternoon

Aloha ‘oe Farewell to you

Aloha ahiahi Good evening

Aloha ‘āina Love of the land; to nurture and care for the land.

Aloha au ia ‘oe I love you

Aloha kakahiaka Good morning

Aloha nui loa Very much love

‘A‘ole pilikia No problem, no trouble.

‘Auana Modern; Especially relating to hula.

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

‘Aumakua Ancestral spirit, family or personal gods

E Komo Mai Welcome! Enter

HālauLong house, as for canoes or hula instruction;

meeting house

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Overlooking Waimea Canyon State Park on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA, nicknamed the Grand Canyon

of the Pacific.

HAWAIIAN WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Hale House, building

Hana Work

Hana hou Encore, do it again.

Hānai Adopted, to raise, rear, feed

HaoleA foreigner; Pidgin slang –

Caucasian

Hapa haole Person of mixed racial ancestry

Hāpai To carry, pregnant

Hau‘oli lā Hānau Happy Birthday

Hau‘oli lā Ho‘omaha loa Happy Retirement

Hau‘oli lā Ho‘omana‘o Happy Anniversary

Hau‘oli Happy, glad, joy

Hau‘oli Hanukaha Happy Hanukkah

HAWAIIAN WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Hau‘oli Hanukaha me ka

Makahiki HouHappy Hanukkah and New Year

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou Happy New Year

Hehena Raving mad, possessed, lunatic

HeiauPre-Christian shrine or place of

worship

Hele Move, go, travel

Hiapo First Born

HinaTo fall, topple over from an upright

position

Hoaloha Friend

Hō‘ike Show, display

Hōkū Star

Holoholo Out on a lark, fishing, to wander

HAWAIIAN WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Honu Turtle

Huhū Angry

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Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii

HAWAIIAN WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Hula The dance of Hawaii

HAWAIIAN WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Huli-huliRotisserie or 'end-over-end' as in chicken

cooked this way.

Humuhumunukunuku

apua'aThe State fish. A Triggerfish.

I'a Fish

Imu An underground oven you will see at a luau

Kahiko Ancient hula dance

Kahu Guardian, leader, minister

KahunaExpert. A priest, minister, or an expert at any

profession

Kai Sea, sea water; seaside

Kālā Money

Kala mai ia‘u Excuse me

HAWAIIAN WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Kalo Taro

Kama‘āinaCommonly referred to a long-time resident of

Hawai'i.

Kāne A man or boy

Kanikapila Musical jam session

Kapa Cloth made from the bark of the wauke tree

Kapu Sacred, taboo, forbidden, no trespassing

Keiki Child, offspring, or children

Koa Warrior

Kōkua Help, aid, assistance, relief.

Kolohe Rascal

Kuleana Responsibility

Kulikuli Be quiet! Shut up!

HAWAIIAN WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Kumu Teacher

Kupuna Grandparent, ancestor

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Red hot lava flowing into Pacific Ocean on Big Island, Hawaii

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Ku‘uipo Sweetheart

Laki Lucky

Lanai A porch, patio, or balcony

Lani Sky, the heavens

Lau Leaf

Laule‘a Peaceful, happy

Laulima Cooperation

Lehua The flower of the ‘ohi‘a tree

LeiA necklace of flowers, leaves, shells, feathers, given as

a symbol of affection;

Leilani Heavenly flower

Lo‘i Taro patch

Lolo Feeble minded, numb

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Lū‘auLiterally means taro leaves, but used for a Hawaiian

feast

Luna Foreman, boss, supervisor

Mahalo Thank You

Mahalo nui loa Thank you very much

Maha‘oi Insolent, rude, brazen

Mahina Moon

Maika‘i Excellent, goodness

Maika‘i no au I am fine

Maka Eye

Makai Toward the ocean

Makana Gift, present

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Makua Parent, any relative of the parent's generation

Mālama To take care of, preserve, protect, maintain;

[GARD]

Beautiful Pink Plumeria

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Malihini New comer, visitor

Mana‘o Thought

Manapua Chinese dim sum

Manini Stingy

Manō Shark

Manu Bird

Manuahi Free, gratis

Maoli Native, indigenous, genuine.

Mau Loa Forever

Mauka Inland, upland, toward the mountains.

Mele Chant or melodic song for hula dancing

Mele Kalikimaka Merry Christmas

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

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 Ocean

Moku Island

Mo‘o Lizard

Mo‘opuna Grandchild

Nalu Wave, surf

Nani Pretty

Nīele Nosy, frivolously inquisitive

Niu Coconut

HAWAIIAN

WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Nui Big, large, great, or important

‘O ia mau nō Same as usual

‘Ohana Family, relative, kin group; related.

Commonly seen Green Gecko.

HAWAIIA

N WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

‘Ōkole Ass or butt (slang)

‘Ōlelo

Language, speech, word, quotation, statement, utterance, term;

to speak, say, state, talk, mention, quote, converse, tell; oral,

verbatim, verbal.

‘Oli Chant

‘Ono Delicious or tasty, and also a large mackerel type of fish

‘Ōpala Garbage, trash

‘Ōpū Stomach, abdomen

Pāhoehoe Smooth, ropey lava

Palahē Flattened, crushed

Pali Cliff, a steep hill or slope

Paniolo Hawaiian cowboy

Pau Finished, ended, all done

HAWAIIA

N WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Pehea ‘oe? How are you?

Pilau Stinky, smelly

Pilikia Troubles

Pōhaku Stone, rock

Poi A paste made from pounded taro root

Pakalolo Marijuana

Pōmaika`i Good fortune, blessing

Pū Shell

Pua‘a Pig

PulePrayer, incantation, blessing, grace; to pray, worship, ask a

blessing.

Pūpū Snacks or appetizers

Pupule Crazy

HAWAIIA

N WORDENGLISH TRANSLATION

Pu‘uwai Heart

Tūtū Grandfather, Grandmother

U‘i Handsome, pretty, beautiful, youthful

‘Uku Louse, flea. Small, tiny

Wa‘a Canoe

Wahine Woman, lady

Wai Water, usually fresh water

Waipahē Good-natured

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