Hawaiian Verb/Noun · Family
hānaialo
Pronunciation: /HAH-nai-ah-loh/
Meaning
To adopt a child, an adopted child (term of endearment and respect).
Example sentences
Ua hoʻoholo ka ʻohana e hānaialo i ke keiki ʻōiwi.
The family decided to adopt the orphaned child.
Mahalo nui iā ʻoe, e koʻu hānaialo, no kou aloha mau.
Thank you so much, my adopted child/dear one, for your constant love.
ʻO ia koʻu hānaialo, ua ʻike au iā ia mai kona wā liʻiliʻi.
She is my adopted child; I have known her since she was little.
About this word
“hānaialo” is a Hawaiian verb/noun meaning To adopt a child, an adopted child (term of endearment and respect). It is part of the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) vocabulary in the category of Family. Definitions are based on the Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary.