Common Words and Phrases

Hawai'ian WordDefinitionPronunciationHear it--click to play
`A`ala smell good[audio:aala.mp3]
A hui houTill we meet again[audio:ahuihou.mp3]
A hui hou kakou Until we meet again [audio:ahuihoukakou.mp3]
A`a sharp jagged lava rock(AH-ah)[audio:aa.mp3]
A`ole pilikia You're welcome / No problem[audio:aolepilikia.mp3]
Ae yes [audio:ae.mp3]
Ahupua'a land division[audio:ahupuaa.mp3]
Aina land, especially Hawaiian ancestral lands (EYE-nah)[audio:aina.mp3]
Akamai Smart, Clever, Intelligent(AHH-kah-my)[audio:akamai.mp3]
Okole'Ass or butt (slang)(AHH-koh-leh)[audio:akole.mp3]
Akua God (AHH-koo-ah)[audio:akua.mp3]
Ala road, way, path (AHH-lah)[audio:ala.mp3]
AleloTongue, language. (AHH-lay-low)[audio:alelo.mp3]
Ali'i Chief, chiefess, or royalty (ah-LEE-ee) [audio:alii.mp3]
Aloha Love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; to love, be fond of; to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection; Hello! Good-bye! Farewell! Alas!(ah-LOW-ha) [audio:aloha.mp3]
Aloha `auinala Good afternooon [audio:alohaauinala.mp3]
Aloha `oe Farewell to you [audio:alohaoe.mp3]
Aloha ahiahi Good evening [audio:alohaahiahi.mp3]
Aloha 'aina Love of the land; to nurture and care for the land. [audio:alohaaina.mp3]
Aloha au ia 'oe I love you[audio:alohaauiaoe.mp3]
Aloha kakahiaka Good morning[audio:alohakakahiaka.mp3]
Aloha nui loa Very much love[audio:alohanuiloa.mp3]
A'ole pilikia No problem, no trouble. [audio:aolepilikia.mp3]
Auana modern hula dance hula[audio:auana.mp3]
Aumakua ancestral spirit [audio:aumakua.mp3]
E Komo MaiWelcome! Enter
Halau school, such as hula (hula group) [audio:halau.mp3]
Hale house building haole foreigner, especially now Caucasian [audio:hale.mp3]
Hana work [audio:hana.mp3]
Hana hou Encore, do it again.[audio:hanahou.mp3]
HanaiAdopted(HUH-nigh)[audio:hanai.mp3]
Haole A white person; Caucasian (HOW-leh) [audio:haole.mp3]
Hapa haole person of mixed racial ancestry (HAH-pah HOW-leh)[audio:hapahaole.mp3]
Hapai carry, pregnant (HAH-pie)[audio:hapai.mp3]
Hau`oli la Hanau Happy Birthday (how-oh-lee la ha-now)[audio:hauolilahanau.mp3]
Hau`oli la Ho'omaha loa Happy Retirement how-oh-lee la ho-o-ma-ha low-a[audio:hauolilahoomanaloa.mp3]
Hau`oli la Ho'omana'o Happy Anniversary how-oh-lee la ho-o-ma-na-o[audio:hauolilahoomanao.mp3]
HauoliHappiness[audio:hauolihanukaha.mp3]
Hau'oli Hanukaha Happy Hanukkah how-oh-lee ha-new-ka-ha[audio:hauolihanukaha.mp3]
Hau'oli Hanukaha me ka Makahiki HouHappy Hanukkah and New Year [audio:hauolihanukahameka.mp3]
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou Happy New Year how-oh-lee ma-ka-hee-key ho[audio:hauolimakahikihou.mp3]
hehena raving mad, possessed, lunatic [audio:hehena.mp3]
Heiau Pre-Christian shrine or place of worship (hay-EE-ow) [audio:heiau.mp3]
Hele move, go, travel [audio:hele.mp3]
HiapoFirst Born [audio:hiapo.mp3]
HinaMist(HEE-nah)[audio:hina.mp3]
Ho'aloha friend [audio:haaloha.mp3]
Ho'ike show, display [audio:hoike.mp3]
Hoku star [audio:hoku.mp3]
Holoholo out on a lark, fishing [audio:holoholo.mp3]
Honu turtle [audio:honu.mp3]
Huhu angry, offended hula [audio:huhu.mp3]
Hula The dance of Hawaii (WHO-lah) [audio:hula.mp3]
Huli-huliHawaiian for rotisserie or 'end-over-end' and is also the name for a marinade made and sold in the Hawaiian Islands. It is composed of mostly ginger and shoyu (soy sauce). Huli-huli sauce has a particular pungent smell and taste and is similar to teriyaki sauce. It is best as a marinade used before and during cooking,(HOO-lee HOO-lee)[audio:hulihuli.mp3]
Humuhumunukunukuapua'aVarieties of triggerfish characterized by a pig'-like snout.[audio:humuhumu.mp3]
I'a fish[audio:ia.mp3]
Imu An underground oven you will see at a luau (EE-moo) [audio:imu.mp3]
Kahiko ancient hula dance [audio:kahiko.mp3]
Kahu Guardian, leader, minister(KAH-hoo)[audio:kahu.mp3]
Kahuna Expert. A priest, minister, or an expert at any profession (kah-WHO-na) [audio:kahuna.mp3]
Kai Sea, sea water; area near the sea, seasideCHI (as in "sigh")[audio:kai.mp3]
Kala money (kah-lah)[audio:kala.mp3]
Kala mai ia'u Excuse me[audio:kalamaiiau.mp3]
Kalo taro (Kah-loh)[audio:kalo.mp3]
Kama'aina Native-born, one born in a place, host; acquainted, familiar. Commonly referred to a long-time resident of Hawai'i, as distinguished from a visitor.(Kah-ma-EYE-na) [audio:kamaaina.mp3]
Kane A man or boy (KAH-nay) [audio:kane.mp3]
Kanikapila musical jam session [audio:kanikapila.mp3]
KapaCloth made from the bark of the wauke tree(Kah-pah)[audio:kapa.mp3]
Kapu Sacred, taboo, forbidden, no trespassing (KAH-poo) [audio:kapu.mp3]
Ke'alohaLove is all around(KAY-Ah-LOW-hah)[audio:kealoha.mp3]
Keiki Child, offspring, or children (KAY-key) [audio:keiki.mp3]
KoaWarrior(KOH-ah)[audio:koa.mp3]
Kokua Help, aid, assistance, relief, assistant, associate, deputy, helper; co-operation; to help, assist, support, accommodate.(koh-KOO-ah) [audio:kokua.mp3]
KoloheRascal(KOH-LOW-hay)[audio:kolohe.mp3]
KuleanaResponsibility(Koo-lay-ah-nah)[audio:kuleana.mp3]
Kulikuli Be quiet! Shut up! (Koo-lee-koo-lee)[audio:kulikuli.mp3]
Kumu teacher (KOO-moo)[audio:kumu.mp3]
KupunaGrandparent, ancestor(KOO-poo-na)[audio:kupuna.mp3]
KuuipoSweetheart(KOO-OO-EE-po)[audio:kuuipo.mp3]
LakiLucky(lah-KEY)[audio:laki.mp3]
Lanai A porch, patio, or balcony (lah-NIGH) [audio:lanai.mp3]
Lani sky, the heavens (LAH-nee)[audio:lani.mp3]
Lau leaf (LOW as in "Cow")[audio:lau.mp3]
LauleaPeaceful, happy(LOW-lay-eh)[audio:laulea.mp3]
LaulimaCooperation(LOW-lee-mah)[audio:laulima.mp3]
LehuaBeloved friend or relative(LAY-Hoo-ah)[audio:lehua.mp3]
Lei A necklace of flowers, leaves, shells, feathers, given as a symbol of affection; beads; any ornament worn around the head or about the neck; (lay) [audio:lei.mp3]
LeilaniHeavenly flower(LAY-lah-nee)[audio:leilani.mp3]
Lo'i taro patch (low-ee)[audio:loi.mp3]
Lolo feeble minded, numb (LOW-low)[audio:lolo.mp3]
Luau Literally means young taro tops, but used for a Hawaiian feast (LEW-ow) [audio:luau.mp3]
LunaForeman, boss, supervisor(LOO-nah)[audio:luna.mp3]
Mahalo Thanks, gratitude, "Thank You"(mah-HAH-low) [audio:mahalo.mp3]
Mahalo nui loa Thank you very much [audio:mahalonuiloa.mp3]
Maha'oi insolent, rude, brazen [audio:mahaoi.mp3]
Mahina moon (MAH-hee-nah)[audio:mahina.mp3]
Maika'iExcellent, goodness, well-being (MY-kah-ee)[audio:maikai.mp3]
Maika'i no au I am fine(MY-kah-ee no ow)[audio:maikainoau.mp3]
Maka eye (mah-KAH)[audio:maka.mp3]
Makai On the seaside. Ocean, used to mean "toward the ocean" (mah-kigh) [audio:makai.mp3]
MakanaGift, present [audio:makana.mp3]
Makua Parent, any relative of the parent's generation, as uncle, aunt, cousin; progenitor; main stalk of a plant; adult; full-grown, mature, older, senior. [audio:makua.mp3]
Malama To take care of, tend, attend, care for, preserve, protect, maintain; care, preservation, support, fidelity, loyalty; caretaker, keeper.[audio:malama.mp3]
Malihini new comer, visitor [audio:malihini.mp3]
Mana'o thought [audio:manao.mp3]
Manapua generic term for Chinese dim sum [audio:manapua.mp3]
Manini stingy [audio:manini.mp3]
Mano shark [audio:mano.mp3]
Manu bird [audio:manu.mp3]
Manuahi free, gratis [audio:manuahi.mp3]
maoli Hawaiian people kane man, male [audio:maoli.mp3]
Mau Loa Forever[audio:mauloa.mp3]
Mauka Inland, upland, toward the mountains. (MOW-ka [rhymes with how-ka]) [audio:mauka.mp3]
Melechant or melodic song for hula dancing [audio:mele.mp3]
Mele Kalikimaka Merry Christmas (MAY-lee ka-lee-key-MAH-ka)[audio:melekalikimaka.mp3]
Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki HouMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year [audio:melekalikimakameka.mp3]
MenehuneLegendary race of small people believed to have worked during the night building roads, fish ponds and temples.[audio:menehune.mp3]
Moana ocean (MO-ah-nah)[audio:moana.mp3]
Moku island (MO-koo)[audio:moku.mp3]
Mo'olizard [audio:moo.mp3]
MoopunaGrandchild [audio:moopuna.mp3]
Nalu Wave, surf; full of waves; to form waves[audio:nalu.mp3]
Nani pretty [audio:nani.mp3]
Niele nosey, frivolously inquisitive [audio:niele.mp3]
Niu coconut [audio:niu.mp3]
Nui Big, large, great, or important (NEW-ee) [audio:nui.mp3]
'O ia mau no Same as usual[audio:oiamauno.mp3]
Ohana Family, relative, kin group; related. (oh-HAH-nah) [audio:ohana.mp3]
OleloLanguage, speech, word, quotation, statement, utterance, term; to speak, say, state, talk, mention, quote, converse, tell; oral, verbatim, verbal. [audio:olelo.mp3]
Oli chant (not for hula dancing) [audio:oli.mp3]
Ono Delicious or tasty, and also a large mackerel type of fish (OH-no) [audio:ono.mp3]
Opala garbage, trash [audio:opala.mp3]
Opu stomach, abdomen [audio:opu.mp3]
PahoehoeSmooth lava.[audio:pahoehoe.mp3]
Palahe flattened, crushed [audio:palahe.mp3]
Pali Cliff, a steep hill or slope (PAH-lee) [audio:pali.mp3]
Paniolo Hawaiian cowboy (paw-knee-OH-low) [audio:paniolo.mp3]
Pau Finished, ended, all done (pow) [audio:pau.mp3]
Pehea 'oe? How are you?[audio:peheaoe.mp3]
Pilau stinky, smelly [audio:pilau.mp3]
pilikia troubles [audio:pilikia.mp3]
Pohaku stone, rock [audio:pohaku.mp3]
Poi A paste made from pounded taro root (poy, as in boy) [audio:poi.mp3]
Pokalolo marijuana[audio:pokalolo.mp3]
Pomaika`i Good Luck [audio:pomaikai.mp3]
Pu shell [audio:pu.mp3]
Pua'a pig puke book [audio:puaa.mp3]
Pule Prayer, incantation, blessing, grace; to pray, worship, ask a blessing. [audio:pule.mp3]
Pupu Snacks or appetizers (poo-poo) [audio:pupu.mp3]
Pupule Crazy[audio:pupule.mp3]
PuuwaiHeart [audio:puuwai.mp3]
TutuGrandfather, Grandmother(too-too)[audio:tutu.mp3]
U'i handsome, pretty, beautiful, youthful (ooh-EE)[audio:ui.mp3]
Uku louse, flea ("uku head" 'a dumb, small brained person) (OOH-koo)[audio:uku.mp3]
Wa'a canoe [audio:waa.mp3]
Wahine Woman, lady (wah-HEE-neh) [audio:wahine.mp3]
Wai fresh water [audio:waia.mp3]
WaipaheGood-natured[audio:waipahe.mp3]
Wikiwiki Fast or speedy(wee-kee-wee-kee) [audio:wikiwiki.mp3]
Common Hawaiian words and phrases.