Dictionary
Hawaiian Dictionary
Hawaiian Dictionary
Hawaiian Word Definition
`a`ala smell fragrant; smell good
`ahui (fruit / flower) cluster
`ai eat
`aihue steal; thief
`aikalima ice cream
`aila oil; fat; grease
`aina land
`aina ahiahi evening meal
`aina awakea lunch
`ainahanau birthplace
`aka`aka laugh
`aka`akai onion
`aka`akailau green onion
`aka`akaipoepoe round onion
`akala pink
`akau north; right
`ako pick off a plant
`ako`ako`a coral pieces
`ala fragrance; smell
`alani orange
`alawa to glance downward
`anakala uncle
`anake aunty
`ane`i here (always ma`ane`i; i`ane`i)
`ane`i mai this side of
`ano type; kind
`ano nui important
`ano`ano seed
`ano`e strange; funny kine
`ao`ao page
`aoa bark at
`apana piece
`Apelila April
`au stem; swim (toward something)
`au`au take a bath; swim around in the water
`auinala afternoon
`Aukake August
`aumakua guardian spirits; family gods
`awapuhi ginger; known for its fragrant flowers
`awiwi quick; fast; swift
`e`e board; get on top of something
`eha number four
`eheu wing
`ehiku number seven
`ehu reddish hair
`eiwa number nine
`ekahi number one
`eke bag; purse
`ekolu number three
`ele`ele black
`elemakule old man
`eleweka elevator
`eli dig; dig up
`elima number five
`elua number two
`enuhe caterpillar
`eono number six
`ewalu number eight
`i`o meat; flesh; beef
`iako outrigger of the canoe
`ike see; know
`ikoi (fruit) core
`ili skin; surface
`ili`ili pebbles
`ilio dog
`iliwai waterhose
`o fork; there (always ma `o); jab; poke; spear
`o aku beyond
`o`o mature
`oe you (one person)
`ohi gather; pick up; collect
`ohi`alomi tomato
`oi sharper; -er; better; worse
`oia`i`o true; truly
`Okakopa October
`oki cut
`oki`oki chop up; cut up
`okika orchid
`oko`a different
`olala bask in the sun
`ole un-; be non-existent; nothingness
`olelo speak; language
`olelo no`eau traditional saying; proverb
`olu`olu comfortable; pleasant; nice
`olua you folks (two)
`oma oven; bake
`oma`ima`i somewhat sick; not feeling well
`omole bottle
`ono delicious
`opala rubbish; trash
`opihi mollusk; limpet
`opihi `alinalina a kind of `opihi
`opiopio young
`opu stomach; belly
`opuku tripe stew
`oukou you folks (more than two)
`u`u to strip stem from vine; as with maile
`uala sweet potato
`ualakahiki Irish potato
`ui squeeze out
`ula`ula red
`umi number ten
`umi`umi beard; mustache; whiskers
`umikumakahi number eleven
`upa scissors
`upena net (fishing)
a of
A hui hou Till we meet again
A hui hou kakou Until we meet again
a`a root
A`a sharp jagged lava rock
a`o learn; teach
A`ole pilikia You're welcome / No problem
a`u (replaces au after me)
Ae yes
'ae yes
ahi fire
ahiahi evening
ahupua'a land division
aina land; especially Hawaiian ancestral lands
akahele be careful of
Akaka Falls
akamai intelligent
Akamai Smart; Clever; Intelligent
aku fish: mackerel
akua God
ala awake
ala road; way; path
alahele pathway
alaka`i lead; leader
alaloa highway
alanui street; road
alelo tongue
ali`i noble; royal
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!
Aloha `auinala Good afternooon
Aloha `oe Farewell to you
Aloha ahiahi Good evening
Aloha 'aina 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
ama outrigger float
Anaeho'omalu Bay State park on western Big Island
anuanu cold
A'ole pilikia No problem; no trouble.
apolima bracelet
au I; time period
Auana modern hula dance hula
aue Oh no! Alas!
'aumakua ancestral spirit
aupuni government; country
awakea noontime
e do something
emi cheap
feather hulu
ha`alele to leave a place; abandon something
ha`awi give
ha`awi mai give (me; us)
ha`awina lesson
ha`i inform; tell; reveal
ha`ule fall (throught the air)
ha`ulelau fall (season)
hahai follow
hakaka fight
Hakalau
haku compose
hala passed by; pass; the fruit of puhala
halau school; such as
hale building; house
hale`aina restaurant; cafeteria
haleka`a garage; carport
haleki`i`oni`oni movie theatre
haleku`ai store
halekula school building
haleleka post office
halepe`a tent
halepule church
hali`i spread out (mat; blanket)
halihali carry; transport (cargo; baggage)
hamama open; unobstructed
hana work
Hana hou Encore; do it again.
hana`ino mistreat
Hanai Adopted
hanai feed; raise (animals; people); adopted/foster child
hanau give birth
hanini to be spilled
Haole Caucasian
Haole A white person; Caucasian
hapa haole person of mixed racial ancestry
hapaha quarter
hapai pregnant; carry; lift
hapai carry; pregnant
hapalua half
hapanui majority
hapu`u tree fern
Hapuna Beach Beautiful beach in South Kohala
hau ice
hau`oli happy; fun; joy
Hau`oli la Hanau Happy Birthday
Hau`oli la Ho'omaha loa Happy Retirement
Hau`oli la Ho'omana'o Happy Anniversary
haumana student
Hauoli Happiness
Hau'oli Hanukaha Happy Hanukkah
Hau'oli Hanukaha me ka Makahiki Hou Happy Hanukkah and New Year
Hau'oli Kawanaka Happy Kwanzaa
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou Happy New Year
haupia coconut pudding
Hawi
he a
hea where (always i hea)
hehena raving mad; possessed; lunatic
heiau ancient religious site; temple
heihei race
hele go
hele move; go; travel
hele mai come
helu number
heluhelu read
hema south; left
hemahema unskilled; awkward
hemo loose; unfastened
hiamoe sleep
hiapo first born child
hiki possible; arrive
hilahila shame; shy; embarrassed;
Hilo
himeni song; sing
Hina Mist
hinano flower of the puhala
hinuhinu shiny
hipa sheep
ho hoe
ho`a turn on (light; electricity
ho`ailona sign; symbol
ho`ala wake up (someone)
ho`i go back
ho`i mai come back
ho`ohalike compare
ho`ohau`oli have fun; do fun things
ho`ohuli turn something over
ho`oilo winter
ho`oio show off
ho`okahi one (amount)
ho`okahi haneli one hundred (number and amount)
ho`okano conceited
ho`okipa invite in guests; treat hospitably
ho`okomo put inside; insert
ho`oku`i to join things together
ho`olauna introduce; introduce someone
ho`ole deny; say no; negate
ho`olohe listen
ho`oma`ama`a pracice
ho`oma`ema`e clean something
ho`omaka begin; start
ho`omakaukau prepare
ho`omo`a cook
ho`omoana to camp
ho`opa`a to make firm; to learn
ho`opa`a hau to freeze something
ho`opa`a noho reserve a seat
ho`opae bring shore; cast ashore
ho`opiha to fill something up
ho`opili mai imitate (me)
ho`opio turn off (light; electricity)
ho`oulu grow (something); raise (plants)
ho`owali mix (poi)
hoaaloha friend
hoahanau cousin
ho'aloha friend
hoe paddle
hohono bad-smelling
hohonu deep
ho'ike show; display
hokele hotel
hoku star
hola hour; time
holo run; ride on
holoholo ride/walk around for fun
holoholo out on a lark; fishing
holoholona animal
holoi wash; wipe
Holualoa Coffee village in North Kona
Honalo
Honaunau
honi smell; kiss
Honoka'a
Honokohau Harbor West Hawaii harbor
Honolulu capital city
honu turtle
honu turtle
honua ground; earth; world
Ho'okena Beach Park
hope behind; after
hopenapule weekend
hu`ihu`i chilly
hua fruit; seed; tuber
Hualalai
huamoa (chicken) egg
huhu angry; mad at
huhu angry; offended hula
hui club; organization
hui mokulele airline company
huki pull; pull out
Hula The dance of Hawaii
huli taro slip; search for; look for; turn a corner; face a different direction
Huli-huli Hawaiian 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
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Varieties of triggerfish characterized by a pig'-like snout.
i in; on; at; to
ia he; she (or `o ia); the aforesaid
i'a fish
Ianuali January
ihu nose
ikaika strong
ikiki hot and humid
imu underground oven
Imu An underground oven you will see at a luau
inoa name
inoahope last name
inu drink
ipuhao pot
Iulai July
Iune June
iwakalua twenty
iwi bone; shell
ka the
ka `olua your (two persons)
ka `oukou your ( more than two persons)
ka ka wahine the woman's
ka lakou their
ka Lani Lani's
ka`a car
ka`u my
ka`ukama cucumber
kahakai beach
Kahalu'u
kahawai stream; river
kahea call out
kahi to comb; shave; comb; smooth out; ka + wahi; the place
kahiko old; ancient
kahiko ancient hula dance
kahu leader; minister
kahua mau`u grassy yard
kahua mokulele airport
kahua pa`ani playground
kahuna expert in any profession; priest; sorcerer; magician
kai salt water; sea
kai nioi chili pepper water
kaikaina boy's younger brother; girl's younger sister
kaikamahine girl; daughter
kaikua`ana boy's older brother; girl's older sister
kaikuahine boy's sister
kaikunane girl's brother
Kailua-Kona
Ka'imi'nani Street
Kainaliu
kakani crunchy; as in good `opihi
kakou we (you folks and I)
kala color
kala money; dollar
kala money
Kala mai ia'u Excuse me
kalai to hoe
kalaiwa drive a car
kalaka truck
kalani gallon
Kalaoa Refers to the area in North Kona directly mauka of the airport
Kalapana
kali wait for; wait
Kalikimaka Christmas
kalima cream
kalipa slipper
kalo taro
kalo taro
kalua to cook in an imu
kama`a shoe
kama`ilio converse
kama'aina island native; long term resident kanaka
kamali`i children
kamu chewing gum
Kamuela
kana his / her
kanaiwa number ninety
kanaka man; human being
kanakolu number thirty
kanapi centipede
Kane A man or boy
kani make a sound; chime; sing (bird)
kanikapila musical jam session
kanu to plant; bury
kao goat
kaomi press (button)
kaona town; hidden meaning
Kapa Cloth made from the bark of the wauke tree
Kapa'a Beach Park State park in North Kohala
Kapa'au
kapakahi crooked
kapena captain
kapi sprinkle on (as salt)
kapiki cabbage
kapu forbidden; sacred; taboo
kapuahi stove
kapulu sloppy; poorly done
kau ride a vehicle; be on top of something; position
kau your
Ka'u District (southernmost)
kaua we (you and I)
kauka doctor
kaula string; rope; cord
kaulana famous
kaumaha sad; heavy
kauoha order; command
Ka'upulehu (Four Seasons)
kauwela summer
Kawaihae Village in North Kohaha on western Big Island
kawele towel; napkin
kawowo seedling
ke the
ke`oke`o white
Kea'au
Keahole West Hawaii airport
Kealakehe Village and area in North Kona; the largest high school on the Big Island
Kealakekua
Ke'aloha Love is all around
Keauhou
keia this
keiki boy; son; child
keiki child
keikikane boy; son
kekahi one; one of the; another; the other; a certain
Kekemapa December
kekona scond (as in time)
kela that
kelepona telephone
kena that (by you)
Kepakemapa September
Kepani Japanese
ki tea
ki`aha (drinking) glass
ki`i picture; go get; fetch
ki`i`oni`oni movie
kihi corner (outside point)
Kiholo Bay
kiki shoot (water; insecticide)
kikokiko spots; spot
Kilauea
kiloi throw
King Kamehameha statue
kini can
kinipopo ball (for games)
kino body
kipikua pick
kiwai water faucet handle
kiwi T.V.
ko ka wahine the woman's
ko Lani Lani's
ko`e earthworm
ko`u my
koa type of wood
koe remain; left; more
Kohana'iki (Pine Trees) The best surf spot on the Big Island; North Kona area
kokoke close; near; almost
kokoleka chocolate
kokua help; aid
kokua help; assistance
Kolea Condominium complex in Waikoloa Beach resort
kolea plover; carpetbagger
kolo crawl
kolohe rascal
kolohe naughty; mischievous; rascal
Koloko
komo enter; go in
kona his / her
kono invite
kopala shovel
kope rake; coffee
kopekope to rake
kou your
ku poked; such a wound; stand; stop
ku`ai `emi sale
ku`ai aku
ku`ai aku / buy / sell
ku`i pound; punch
ku`i `opihi pound / pick `opihi
kua back (body part)
kuahiwi mountain
Kuakini Highway
kuawa guava
kuene flight attendant; waiter / waitress
kuhikuhi to point out
kui to string as a lei;needle; pin; nail
kuka coat
kukae excrement (lepo is more polite)
kukaepele sulphur; match
kuke cook
kuku thorn
kuku grandparent; Tutu
kukui light fixture; candlenut tree
kukuihelepo lantern
kukulu set up; build
kula school
Kuleana Responsibility
kulikuli Be quiet! Shut up!
kulou bend down
kumu reason; teacher
kumu teacher
kumukula school teacher
kumula`au tree (any kind)
kumumanako mango tree
kupa cook by boiling; soup
kupono appropriate
kupulau spring (season)
kupuna grandparent; elder
kupunakane grandfather
kupunawahine grandmother
Kuuipo Sweetheart
la day
la hanau birthday
la`au wood
la`auhihi vine
la`aumake poison; herbicide
lahilahi thin; delicate
laiki rice
laila there (always i laila; ma leila)
laina line
lakeke jacket
Laki Lucky
lakou they (more than two persons)
lala branch
lalani to line up
lalo below; under
lana float
lanai porch; veranda
Lanai A porch; patio; or balcony
lanakila to have victory; victory
lani sky; heaven; royal
lani sky; the heavens
Lanihau Shopping Center
Lapule Sunday
lau leaf; sweet potato stem slip
lau leaf
laua they (two people)
laua`e maile-scented fern
laulau meat bundled in leaves
Laulea Peaceful; happy
Laulima Cooperation
launa meet socially; socialize
lauoho hair (on the head)
Laupahoehoe
lawa enough
lawai`a to fish for; fisherman
lawe take
lawe mai bring
laweleka mail carrier
le`ale`a amusement; pleasure
Lehua Beloved friend or relative
lei garland; to wear around the neck as a lei
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;
Leilani Heavenly flower
leiwili a kind of lei
leka mail; letter
lekio radio
leko watercress
lekuke lettuce
lele to fly; to get off a vehicle
lepo dirty; soil; dirt
lewa to be suspened with gentle movement i the air; sky; airspace
li`ili`i small
lihikai area close to beach
like same; similar to
lima hand
limu seaweed; algae
lio horse
lo`ihi long; tall
loa`a be found; caught; possessed
lohe hear
lohi late; slow
lo'i taro patch
loko inside; innards
lole clothes; dress
lole`au`au swim clothes
loli changed
lolo dumb; paralyzed (as a leg)
lolo feeble minded; numb
lomi rub softly between fingers
lou hand pole for picking fruit; to pick witha lou
lu`au feast; taro tops
lua hole; pit; crater
lua`i vomit
luahine old woman
Luau Literally means young taro tops; but used for a Hawaiian feast
lumi room
lumi moe bedroom
lumiho`okipa living room; parlor
lumikuke kitchen
luna on top; above
ma in; on; at
ma "and others"
ma`a accustomed to; used to
ma`alahi easy
ma`alili cool after being hot
ma`ema`e clean
ma`i sick
ma`ona full (of food)
mae wilt
maha`oi nosey; bold
mahalo thank you
Mahalo nui loa Thank you very much
maha'oi insolent; rude; brazen
mahele portion; part
mahiko sugar plantation
mahimahi dolphin fish
mahina month; moon
Mahukona Area in North Kohaha on western Big Island
mai don't (do something); from
maia from
maika`i good; fine
Maika'i no au I am fine
maile fragrant vine; leaves used for lei-making
maka eye; face
maka`i police officer
maka`ika`i sightsee; tour
maka`u fear; be afraid of
makaaniani eyeglasses
makahiki year
makai toward the ocean make to die;dead makua parent
makaiauli kind of `opihi
Makalapu'a Shopping Center
Makalei
makana gift
makani wind
makapo blind
makaukau ready; good at it
make dead; die
makeke market
makewai thirsty
makini machine
makou we (they and I)
makua parent
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.
makuahine mother
makuakane father
mala garden
Malaki March
malama take care of; keep
Malama To take care of; tend; attend; care for; preserve; protect; maintain; care; preservation; support; fidelity; loyalty; caretaker; keeper.
malie calm; gentle; windless; sunny
malihini new comer; visitor
malo`o dry
maluhiluhi tired
mama mommy
Mamalahoa Highway
mamao far; distant
mana`o think
manako mango
manamanalima finger
mana'o thought
manapua generic term for Chinese dim sum
manauea seaweed; "ogo"
manini stingy
mano shark
manu bird
manuahi free; gratis
maoli Hawaiian people kane man; male
maopopo clear; understood; understandable
Mau Loa Forever
mau`u grass
maua we (he and I)
mauka toward the mountains mea 'ai food to eat
Mauna Kea
Mauna Loa
me with
mea thing; person; one; `olelo
mea wa`uniu coconut grater
mea`ai food
meainu drink
meakanu plant
Mei May
mele song; sing
Mele Kalikimaka Merry Christmas
Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
melemele yellow
Menehune Legendary race of small people believed to have worked during the night building roads; fish ponds and temples.
mile mile
minuke minute
mo`a cooked
mo`i king; queen
mo`olelo story
mo`opuna grandchild
moana ocean
moe lie down; bed
moena mat
mohala open (flower)
moku cut
moku island
mokulele island
mole tap root
momona fa; sweet-tasting
mo'o lizard
Mo'okini Heiau
Moopuna Grandchild
mu boring insect; weevil; termite
mu`umu`u Hawaiian-style dress
mua in front; before
muliloa last born child
na for; belonging to; by
na intestinesthe (more than one
na`au pretty; beautiful
Na'alehu
naki`i tie
nalowale
nalu disappeared; lost
Nalu Wave; surf; full of waves; to form waves
nana look; watch; observe
nanahu charcoal
nanea wave; surf
nani enjoyable; enjoy
nani pretty
Napo'opo'o
ni`oi chili pepper
niele inquisitive; interrogate
niele nosey; frivolously inquisitive
niho tooth
nihoniho serrated
ninau ask a question
ninini pour
niu coconut
niu coconut
no for; belonging to; by
no`eau cleverly done
no`ono`o consider; ponder; think up
noho chair; sit; live
noi ask for; request
Nowemapa November
nuha sulky; pouty
nui large; plenty
nui big; large
nunui huge
o of
'O ia mau no Same as usual
Ohana Family; relative; kin group; related.
'ohana family (esp. extended)
'okole ass or butt
ola healthy; alive; life
Olelo Language; speech; word; quotation; statement; utterance; term; to speak; say; state; talk; mention; quote; converse; tell; oral; verbatim; verbal.
oli chant (not for hula dancing)
one sand
one hanau birthplace (poetic)
ono delicious '
opala garbage; trash
Opu stomach; abdomen
'opu stomach; abdomen
pa fence; wall; yard; plate; shine (sun); blow (wind)
pa mea`ai plate lunch
pa`a stuck; firm
pa`akai salt
pa`akiki hard; stubborn; difficult
pae for a plane to land
Pahala
pahi knife
pahi`umi`umi razor
Pahoa
Pahoehoe Smooth lava.
pahuhau ice box
pahuleka mailbox. address
paia wall (of a house
paiki, paisi purse; suitcase
paikikalo bicycle
paila pile; be boiling (as water)
pailaka pilot
pailina graveyard
paipu pipe
paka tobacco
pakalaki unlucky
pakaukau table
paku for the contents of something; to burst out
pala ripe
palahe flattened; crushed
palai fry
palaki to brush; brush
Palani Road
palaoa bread; rolls
palaunu brown
pali cliff
palula sweet potato greens
palupalu soft
paniolo cowboy
papa class
papa`ele`ele blackboard
Papa'aloa
papahele floor
papamanawa timetable; schedule
Pau Finished; ended; all done
Pehea 'oe? How are you?
pekona bacon
peni pen
penikala pencil
pepa paper; pepper
pepe baby
Pepeluali February
pia beer
piha full
pihi button
pikake white fragrant flower; peacock
pikiniki to picnic; picnic
pilau stench (milder word is hohono)
pilikia trouble; hassle
pio out (as a light of fire)
pipi cow
pipipi sea snails
po night
Po`aha Thursday
Po`akahi Monday
Po`akolu Wednesday
Po`alima Friday
Po`alua Tuesday
Po`aono Saturday
po`e people
po`ele`ele dark; without light
po`i break (as a wave)
po`o head
poepoe round
pohaku rock; stone
pohihihi confusing; not clearly understood
poho chalk
poho in vain; wasted
Poi A paste made from pounded taro root
poina forget
pokalolo marijuana
poke marinated raw fish chunks; to remove meat from `opihi shell
poko cutworm
pokole short
pola bowl
poloka frog
pololei correct; straight
pololi hungry
Pololu Valley lookout
polu blue
poluea Sea sick /air / car sick
Pomaika`i Good Luck
poni purple
ponolawai`a fishing supplies
popoki cat
popopo rotten (wood; leaves; carpet)
pouli dark (as sky)
poupou short and husky
pu shell
pu`ali to have a groove
pu`alikoa army; military
pu`e hill of dirt for planting `uala
pu`iwa surprised; shocked; startled
pu`olo package
pua flower
pua`a pig
puaaloalo hibiscus
puahala cut hala fruit
puakenikeni fragrant orange flower
Puako Village in South Kohaha on western Big Island
puamale stephanotis
puamelia plumeria
puhala hala tree
puhi smoke (tobacco); eel
puka doorway; door; hole; perforation; come out; go out
Pukiki Portuguese
pule prayer
pulehu cook on hot coals
pulu wet; coconut husk
puna spoon
Punalu'u
pupu shells; mollusks; hors d'oeuvres
pupule crazy
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (Place of Refuge)
Puuwai Heart
Queen Ka'ahumanu
Tutu Grandfather; Grandmother
u`i (youthfully) good-looking; beautiful
ua rain
uaki watch; clock
ue cry (tears)
uea wire
uka inland
ukana baggage; carried belongings
uku pay
'uku louse; flea ("uku head" � a dumb; small brained person)
uliuli deep dark color; blue greenish
ulu to grow up
ulula`au forest
umauma chest
Upolu Point Beautiful lookout point in North Kohala
wa`a canoe
wa`u grate
waele to weed
waena between; among; intermediate
wahine woman; female
waho outside
wai fresh water; who
wai fresh water
waiho to put something some place; leave something
waiho`olu`u color
Waikoloa Village in South Kohaha on western Big Island
Waimea
wainiu coconut milk / water
Waipahe Good-natured
Waipi'o Valley
waiu milk
waiupaka butter
waiwai rich; valuable
wawae foot; leg
wawae`iole "rat foot" (seaweed)
wehe open; take off
weka innards of `opihi
wela hot
welelau tip
wikiwiki fast; quick; speedy
wili to twist something around something
wiwi skinny