Essential Hawaiian word list
for Both Malihini and Kama'aina
By Dave Manu Bird
1994; Revised 2007
Hawaiian Words and Phrases Commonly Heard in Everyday Conversations and Found in Media, Business/Non-Profit Group Names and Advertisements, and Miscellaneous Publications
Please note: Because of technical issues, the version of the word list that appears here does not include kahako. Please consult a dictionary as needed.
| PHRASES | ||
| Mele Kalikimaka | Merry Christmas | |
| Hau'oli Makahiki Hou | Happy New Year | |
| Hau'oli La Hanau | Happy Birthday | |
| A Hui Hou | So long, until we meet again | |
| Da Kine | (Pidgin) this/that thing | |
| Hana Hou | Do it again, as in an encore | |
| Ahana Koko Lele | Shame on you! You are going to catch it! (Many variations) | |
| 'A'ole Pilikia | You're welcome (Lit., no problem) |
| WORDS | ||
| 'ae | yes | |
| ahupua'a | land division | |
| 'aina | land, especially Hawaiian ancestral lands | |
| akua | God | |
| ala | road, way, path | |
| ali'i | Hawaiian royalty | |
| 'a'ole | no | |
| 'aumakua | ancestral spirit | |
| halau | school, such as halau hula (hula group) | |
| hale | house building | |
| haole | foreigner, especially now Caucasian | |
| hana | work | |
| hapa haole | person of mixed racial ancestry | |
| hapai | carry, pregnant | |
| hehena | raving mad, possessed, lunatic | |
| heiau | ancient religious site, temple | |
| hele | move, go, travel | |
| ho'aloha | friend | |
| ho'ike | show, display | |
| hoku | star | |
| holoholo | out on a lark, fishing | |
| honu | turtle | |
| huhu | angry, offended | |
| hula 'auana | modern hula dance | |
| hula kahiko | ancient hula dance | |
| i'a | fish | |
| kahu | leader, minister | |
| kahuna | expert in any profession, priest, sorcerer, magician | |
| kala | money | |
| kai | salt water, sea | |
| kalo | taro | |
| kama'aina | island native, long term resident | |
| kanaka maoli | Hawaiian people | |
| kane | man, male | |
| kanikapila | musical jam session | |
| kapu | taboo, no trespassing | |
| keiki | child | |
| kokua | help, assistance | |
| kolohe | naughty, mischievous, rascal | |
| kulikuli | Be quiet! Shut up! | |
| kumu | teacher | |
| kupuna | grandparent | |
| la | sun | |
| lani | sky, the heavens | |
| lau | leaf | |
| lo'i | taro patch | |
| lolo | feeble minded, numb | |
| maika'i | good | |
| mahalo | thank you | |
| maha'oi | insolent, rude, brazen | |
| mahina | moon | |
| maka | eye | |
| makai | toward the ocean | |
| make | to die,dead | |
| makua | parent | |
| malihini | new comer, visitor | |
| mana'o | thought | |
| manapua | generic term for Chinese dim sum | |
| manini | stingy | |
| mano | shark | |
| manu | bird | |
| manuahi | free, gratis | |
| mauka | toward the mountains | |
| mea 'ai | food to eat | |
| mele | chant or melodic song for hula dancing | |
| moana | ocean | |
| moku | island | |
| mo'o | lizard | |
| nani | pretty | |
| niele | nosey, frivolously inquisitive | |
| niu | coconut | |
| nui | big, large | |
| 'ohana | family (esp. extended) | |
| oli | chant (not for hula dancing) | |
| ono | delicious | |
| 'opala | garbage, trash | |
| 'opu | stomach, abdomen | |
| palahe | flattened, crushed | |
| pali | cliff | |
| paniolo | cowboy | |
| pilau | stinky, smelly | |
| pilikia | troubles | |
| pohaku | stone, rock | |
| pu | shell | |
| pua'a | pig | |
| puke | book | |
| pule | prayer | |
| pupule | crazy | |
| tutu, tutu kane | grandmother, grandfather | |
| u'i | handsome, pretty, beautiful, youthful | |
| 'uku | louse, flea ("uku head" — a dumb, small brained person) | |
| wa'a | canoe | |
| wahine | woman, female | |
| wai | fresh water | |
| wikiwiki | fast, quick, speedy |
SHORT HAWAIIAN CULTURE LESSON
ALOHA means:
| Akahai is kindness. | |
| Lokahi stands for unity. | |
| 'Oluolu is to be pleasant. | |
| Ha'aha'a is humility. | |
| Ahonui is to be patient. |
