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| Hawaiian
Language |
| 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 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. |
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Vowels:
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A,
E, I, O and U |
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Consonants:
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H,
K, L, M, N, P and W |
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Pidgin/Slang
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What
it means |
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Brah
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brother,
friend |
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Da
Kine
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can
be substituted for anyword |
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Howzit
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How are you?, how is it going? |
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Mo'bettah
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this is a better way |
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Shaka
(hand gesture)
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great,
cool, take it easy |
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Stink
eye
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getting a dirty look |
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Tanks
eh?
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thank
you |
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Regularly
used Hawaiian words
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English
Translation |
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A
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Aloha
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greeting
used to say hello or goodbye. Aloha can also mean love |
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'Aina
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land
earth |
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A'a
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sharp
lava |
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Ali'i
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Hawaiian
royalty |
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Akamai
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smart,
intelligent |
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H
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Hale
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house
or home |
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Hana
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work,
bay |
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Haole
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foreigner,
Caucasian |
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Hapa
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portion
or part, mix of races, such as
hapa-haole |
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Hau`oli
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happy |
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Heiau
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ancient
Hawaiian religious temple on a raised base of lava rocks |
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Hoku
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star |
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Holoholo
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to
walk or travel for fun |
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Honu
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turtle |
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Hula
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Hawaiian
form of communication
using dance |
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Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
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our
State Fish, the Hawaiian triggerfish |
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I
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imu
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underground
pit oven used for cooking luau |
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K
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kahuna
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Hawaiian
priest
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kai
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ocean,
salt water
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kama`aina
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native-Hawaiian
or long-time resident
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kane
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man
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kapu
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forbidden,
sacred
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kupuna
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respected
elder
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kupunakane
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grandfather
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kupunawahine
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grandmother
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kau
kau
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food
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ku`uipo
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sweetheart
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L
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lanai
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porch,
veranda
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lani
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heavenly
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laulau
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meat
or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed in a ti leaf packet
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lei
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garland
of flowers, leaves, nuts, or shells
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lolo
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crazy
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luau
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feast
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M
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mahalo
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thank
you
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mahi-mahi
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dolphin
fish
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makahiki
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ancient
Hawaiian celebration held annually with sports and religious
festivities
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malihini
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newcomer,
visitor
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mauna
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mountain
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mele
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song,
sing
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menehune
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mythical
small people who are rumored to have inhabited the Hawaiian
islands before the Polynesians
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N
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nai'a
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dolphin
(the mammal)
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nani
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beautiful,
enjoyable
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nene
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endangered
Hawaii native goose
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niu
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coconut
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O
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`ono
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delicious
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`opala
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trash
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P
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pali
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cliff
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paniolo
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cowboy
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poi
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pounded
taro root
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puka
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hole
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pupu
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appetizer,
snack
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U
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ukulele
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stringed
instrument, small guitar
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W
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wahine
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woman
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wai
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fresh
water
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wikiwiki
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quick,
fast
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More Details
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