The only place where the Hawaiian language is spoken on a daily basis is on the private island of Ni'ihau, located just off the coast of Kauai. Throughout all the islands you will find many Hawaiian names, words and expressions used in daily life. In fact 85% of all place names in Hawaii are Hawaiian and often have interesting stories behind how they got the name. The Polynesians never had a written language until the Missionaries arrived and found they needed a Hawaiian Bible, so they quickly developed a twelve letter alphabet. It includes five vowels and seven consonants which are pronounced just as they are in English except for the W, which is often pronounced as a V. Hawaiian Pidgin or Slang is another common way of communicating in everyday conversation amongst locals.
Here is a video on YouTube.com if you would like to learn more about the Hawaiian Language. If you would like to learn a few everyday words or some everyday slang please see our table below. If you would like to add more words or let us know some comments please contact us.
Here are a few words that you may hear during your visit to the islands. You may also be interested in a Hawaiian-English dictionary which covers more that 5000 words and an introduction to the Hawaiian Language.
Vowels:
A, E, I, O and U
Consonants:
H, K, L, M, N, P and W
Pidgin/Slang
What it means
Brah
brother, friend
Da Kine
can be substituted for anyword
Howzit
How are you?, how is it going?
Mo'bettah
this is a better way
Shaka (hand gesture)
great, cool, take it easy
Stink eye
getting a dirty look
Tanks eh?
thank you
Regularly used Hawaiian words
English Translation
A
Aloha
greeting used to say hello or goodbye. Aloha can also mean love
'Aina
land earth
A'a
sharp lava
Ali'i
Hawaiian royalty
Akamai
smart, intelligent
H
Hale
house or home
Hana
work, bay
Haole
foreigner, Caucasian
Hapa
portion or part, mix of races, such as
hapa-haole
Hau`oli
happy
Heiau
ancient Hawaiian religious temple on a raised base of lava rocks
Hoku
star
Holoholo
to walk or travel for fun
Honu
turtle
Hula
Hawaiian form of communication
using dance
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
our State Fish, the Hawaiian triggerfish
I
imu
underground pit oven used for cooking luau
K
kahuna
Hawaiian priest
kai
ocean, salt water
kama`aina
native-Hawaiian or long-time resident
kane
man
kapu
forbidden, sacred
kupuna
respected elder
kupunakane
grandfather
kupunawahine
grandmother
kau kau
food
ku`uipo
sweetheart
L
lanai
porch, veranda
lani
heavenly
laulau
meat or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed in a ti leaf packet
lei
garland of flowers, leaves, nuts, or shells
lolo
crazy
luau
feast
M
mahalo
thank you
mahi-mahi
dolphin fish
makahiki
ancient Hawaiian celebration held annually with sports and religious festivities
malihini
newcomer, visitor
mauna
mountain
mele
song, sing
menehune
mythical small people who are rumored to have inhabited the Hawaiian islands before the Polynesians
