Common Hawaiian Words and Phrases

If you plan to visit or live in Hawaii, you will need to know how to pronounce the following commonly used words and phrases.

Click on the “Play” button to listen to these common Hawaiian words as spoken by a native Hawaiian language scholar.

NormalSlowerHawaiian WordEnglish Translation
A hui hou Until we meet again
A hui hou kākouUntil we meet again--said to a group
A‘āSharp jagged lava rock
‘A‘ole pilikiaYou're welcome/No problem
‘AeYes
Ahupua‘aLand division
‘ĀinaLand, especially Hawaiian ancestral lands
AkamaiSmart, Clever, Intelligent
AkuaGod
AlaRoad, way, path
AleloTongue, language.
Ali‘iChief, chiefess, or royalty
AlohaLove, affection; greeting, salutation; Hello! Good-bye!
Aloha ‘auinalāGood afternoon
Aloha ‘oeFarewell to you
Aloha ahiahiGood evening
Aloha ‘āinaLove of the land; to nurture and care for the land.
Aloha au ia ‘oeI love you
Aloha kakahiakaGood morning
Aloha nui loaVery much love
‘A‘ole pilikiaNo problem, no trouble.
‘AuanaModern; Especially relating to hula.
‘AumakuaAncestral spirit, family or personal gods
E Komo MaiWelcome! Enter
HālauLong house, as for canoes or hula instruction; meeting house
NormalSlowerHawaiian WordEnglish Translation
HaleHouse, building
HanaWork
Hana houEncore, do it again.
HānaiAdopted, to raise, rear, feed
HaoleA foreigner; Pidgin slang - Caucasian
Hapa haolePerson of mixed racial ancestry
HāpaiTo carry, pregnant
Hau‘oli lā HānauHappy Birthday
Hau‘oli lā Ho‘omaha loaHappy Retirement
Hau‘oli lā Ho‘omana‘oHappy Anniversary
Hau‘oliHappy, glad, joy
Hau‘oli HanukahaHappy Hanukkah
Hau‘oli Hanukaha me ka Makahiki HouHappy Hanukkah and New Year
Hau‘oli Makahiki HouHappy New Year
HehenaRaving mad, possessed, lunatic
HeiauPre-Christian shrine or place of worship
HeleMove, go, travel
HiapoFirst Born
HinaTo fall, topple over from an upright position
HoalohaFriend
Hō‘ikeShow, display
HōkūStar
HoloholoOut on a lark, fishing, to wander
HonuTurtle
HuhūAngry
NormalSlowerHawaiian WordEnglish Translation
HulaThe dance of Hawaii
Huli-huliRotisserie or 'end-over-end' as in chicken cooked this way.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'aThe State fish. A Triggerfish.
I'aFish
ImuAn underground oven you will see at a luau
KahikoAncient hula dance
KahuGuardian, leader, minister
KahunaExpert. A priest, minister, or an expert at any profession
KaiSea, sea water; seaside
KālāMoney
Kala mai ia‘uExcuse me
KaloTaro
Kama‘āinaCommonly referred to a long-time resident of Hawai'i.
KāneA man or boy
KanikapilaMusical jam session
KapaCloth made from the bark of the wauke tree
KapuSacred, taboo, forbidden, no trespassing
KeikiChild, offspring, or children
KoaWarrior
KōkuaHelp, aid, assistance, relief.
KoloheRascal
KuleanaResponsibility
KulikuliBe quiet! Shut up!
KumuTeacher
KupunaGrandparent, ancestor
NormalSlowerHawaiian WordEnglish Translation
Ku‘uipoSweetheart
LakiLucky
LanaiA porch, patio, or balcony
LaniSky, the heavens
LauLeaf
Laule‘aPeaceful, happy
LaulimaCooperation
LehuaThe flower of the ‘ohi‘a tree
LeiA necklace of flowers, leaves, shells, feathers, given as a symbol of affection;
LeilaniHeavenly flower
Lo‘iTaro patch
LoloFeeble minded, numb
Lū‘auLiterally means taro leaves, but used for a Hawaiian feast
LunaForeman, boss, supervisor
MahaloThank You
Mahalo nui loaThank you very much
Maha‘oiInsolent, rude, brazen
MahinaMoon
Maika‘iExcellent, goodness
Maika‘i no auI am fine
MakaEye
MakaiToward the ocean
MakanaGift, present
MakuaParent, any relative of the parent's generation
MālamaTo take care of, preserve, protect, maintain;
NormalSlowerHawaiian WordEnglish Translation
MalihiniNew comer, visitor
Mana‘oThought
ManapuaChinese dim sum
ManiniStingy
ManōShark
ManuBird
ManuahiFree, gratis
MaoliNative, indigenous, genuine.
Mau LoaForever
MaukaInland, upland, toward the mountains.
MeleChant or melodic song for hula dancing
Mele KalikimakaMerry Christmas
Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau‘oli Makahiki HouMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year
MenehuneLegendary race of small people believed to have worked during the night building roads, fish ponds and temples.
MoanaOcean
MokuIsland
Mo‘oLizard
Mo‘opunaGrandchild
NaluWave, surf
NaniPretty
NīeleNosy, frivolously inquisitive
NiuCoconut
NuiBig, large, great, or important
‘O ia mau nōSame as usual
‘OhanaFamily, relative, kin group; related.
NormalSlowerHawaiian WordEnglish Translation
‘ŌkoleAss or butt (slang)
‘ŌleloLanguage, speech, word, quotation, statement, utterance, term; to speak, say, state, talk, mention, quote, converse, tell; oral, verbatim, verbal.
‘OliChant
‘OnoDelicious or tasty, and also a large mackerel type of fish
‘ŌpalaGarbage, trash
‘ŌpūStomach, abdomen
PāhoehoeSmooth, ropey lava
PalahēFlattened, crushed
PaliCliff, a steep hill or slope
PanioloHawaiian cowboy
PauFinished, ended, all done
Pehea ‘oe?How are you?
PilauStinky, smelly
PilikiaTroubles
PōhakuStone, rock
PoiA paste made from pounded taro root
PakaloloMarijuana
Pōmaika`iGood fortune, blessing
Shell
Pua‘aPig
PulePrayer, incantation, blessing, grace; to pray, worship, ask a blessing.
PūpūSnacks or appetizers
PupuleCrazy
Pu‘uwaiHeart
TūtūGrandfather, Grandmother
U‘iHandsome, pretty, beautiful, youthful
‘UkuLouse, flea. Small, tiny
Wa‘aCanoe
WahineWoman, lady
WaiWater, usually fresh water
WaipahēGood-natured
WikiwikiFast or speedy