Hawaiian Words and Phrases
There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). Every vowel is pronounced and all words and syllables end in a vowel. Here is a list of some common Hawaiian words and phrases.
akamai: smart, wise
ala: road or path
aloha: greetings, farewell, or love
anuenue: rainbow
aole: no
Ewa: direction of Ewa plantation
haole: Caucasion, white
halakahiki: pineapple
hale: house
hana: to work
hapa: half, or small part
hauoli la hanau: happy birthday
Heiau: ancient Hawaiian temple
huhu: angry
hulilau: fishing party
huhu: angry
hui: a club or assembly
hula: Hawaiian dance
imu: cooking pit
ipo: sweetheart
kai: ocean, salt water
kane: man
kamaaina: long time local resident
kapu: forbidden
kaukau: food
keiki: child
kokua: help
lanai: porch, veranda
laulau: wrapped food cooked in imu
lolo: crazy, stupid
luau: feast
mahalo: thanks
Ma’i ka’i: I am fine
makai: towards the ocean
Malama pono: be careful
mauka: towards the mountains
Mele Kalikimaka: Merry Christmas
muumuu: loose fitting dress
nani: beautiful, lovely
niu: coconut
okole: bottom rear end
ono: delicious, good
opu: belly
pali: cliff, precipice
pau: finished
pehea oe?: How are you?
pilau: trouble
poi: crushed tarot root
puka: hole
pupu: hors d’oeuvre
ua: rain
wahine: woman
wai: water
wikiwki: hurry
