h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hawaii Native Language
English and Hawaiian are the two official state languages in Hawaii. Therefore almost everyone lived in Hawaii speaks English and some Hawaiian words.
Hawaiian native culture is beautiful and romantic. So many famous movies and Hawaiian songs include some presentations of Hawaiian native language. Today most Hawaii's residents, including people came from US mainland and other countries, speak some Hawaiian in their daily life.

The Hawaiian alphabet consists of only 12 letters: five vowels - a, e, i, o, u, and seven consonants - h, k, l, m, n, p, w. Every syllable ends in a vowel, every vowel is pronounced. The following table lists some common and useful Hawaiian words and phrases that you will often hear in Hawaii.
A E H I K L M N O P U W Phrases

Glossary of Hawaiian Words
Hawaiian Pronunciation English Meaning
A
ahi ahee fire
'ahi ahee tuna fish
'ai aye yes
ai eye eat
akamai ah-kah-my smart, knowledgeable
ala al-lah road
'alana ah-lah-nah church
'alani ah-lah-nee orange
alii ah-lee-ee the old royalty of Hawaii
aloha ah-low-hah hello, love, goodbye
aloha'ole ah-low-hah-ohlay without love
aole ah-oh-lay no
auwe ow-way alas, woe
Hawaiian Pronunciation English Meaning
E
'eha ay-ha pain
'elima ay-lee-mah five
'elua ay-lew-ah two
H
halakahiki hah-lah-kah-hee-kee pineapple
halau hah-lau school
hale hah-lay house
haole how-lay Caucasian, foreigner
hapa hah-pah half, part
hauoli how-oh-lee happiness
he'i hey-ee papaya
heiau hey-ee-au temple
hoaloha ho-ah-low-hah friend
holoholo ho-low-ho-low to relax
honi ho-nee to kiss
hoku ho-koo star
honu ho-new turtle
honua ho-new-ah land, earth
hui hoo-ee union, corporation, club
huhu hoo-hoo angry
hukilau hoo-kee-lau fishing festival, community fishing
hula hoo-lah Hawaiian dance, to dance
Hawaiian Pronunciation English Meaning
I
ia ee-ah he, she, it
i'amaka ee-ah-ma-kah raw fish
'i'i ee-ee tiny
iki ee-kee a little bit
imu ee-moo underground oven used to cook luau pig
inu ee-new to drink
ipo ee-po sweetheart
iwi ee-vee bone
K
ka'alawema'i ka-a-lah-vay-ma-ee ambulance
kai kye sea, ocean
kahuna ka-hoo-nah priest
kala kah-lah money
kalua kah-loo-ah to bake underground
kamaaina kah-mah-eye-nah old-timer, local
kane kah-nay man
kapa kah-pah tapa, bark cloth
kapu kah-poo keep out
kaukau kow-kow food
keiki kay-kee child
kokua ko-koo-ah help
L
la lah Sun, day, light
lanai lah-nye porch
lani lah-nee sky, heaven
lei lay necklace of flowers
lua loo-ah bathroom
luau loo-ow feast
Hawaiian Pronunciation English Meaning
M
mahalo mah-hah-low thank you
ma'ika'i mah-ee-kah-ee good, fine
malihini mah-lee-hee-nee newcomer, stranger
mele may-lay song
muumuu moo-oo-moo-oo Hawaiian long, loose dress
N
nalu nak-loo wave, to surf
nanea nah-nay-ah relaxing, fascinating
nani nan-nee lovely
niu nee-oo coconut
nui noo-ee big (mahalo nui = big thanks)
O
ohana oh-hah-nah family
ola oh-lah life, health
ono oh-no delicious, sweet taste
opu oh-poo belly, stomach
P
pakalaki pah-kah-lah-kee unlucky
pali pah-lee cliff
paniolo pah-nee-oh-low Hawaiian cowboy
pau pow finished
pilialoha pee-lee-ah-low-ha close friendship
pilikia pee-lee-kee-ah trouble
poi poy pounded taro root
puka poo-kah hole
punee poo-nay-ay couch
pupu poo-poo hors d'oeuvre
pupule poo-poo-lay crazy
U
ua oo-ah rain
W
waha wah-hah mouth, speech
wahine wah-hee-nay woman, girl, female
wai why fresh water
wikiwiki wee-kee-wee-kee quickly
Some Hawaiian Phrases
Hawaiian Pronunciation English Meaning
Hele mai hey-lay my Come here
Komo mai e noho iho ko-mo my ay no-ho ee-ho Come in and sit down
No ke aloha no kay ah-low-hah For love
Aloha ahiahi ah-low-hah ah-hee-ah-hee Good evening
Aloha kakahiaka ah-low-hah kah-kah-hee-ah-kah Good morning
Aloha nui oe ah-low-hah noo-ee-oh-ay Greatest love to you
Hauoli la hanau hah-oo-oh-lee-lah hah-nah-oo Happy Birthday
Hauoli Makahiki Hou hah-oo-oh-lee man-kah-hee-kee ho-oo Happy New Year
Pehea oe? pay-hay-ah oh-ay How are you?
Ma'i ka'i mah-ee-kah-ee I am fine.
Ua kaumaha au oo-ah cow-mah-hah ow I am sorry.
Aloha wauia oe ah-low-hah vow-ee-ah oh-ay I love you.
Mele Kalikimaka may-lay kah-lee-kee-mah-kah Merry Christmas
Owai kau inoa? oh-why kah-oo ee-no-ah What is your name?

Basic Hawaiian Words and Phrases


ae-yes

ali’i - a Hawaiian chief or noble

Ahu I hou- Good bye

akamai - smart

aloha - means both hello and good-bye, welcome or farewell, romantic love, affection, or best wishes.

Aloha ahiahi - good evening

Aloha au ia oe - I love you

Aloha kakahiaka - Good morning

Aloha nui loa - much love, fondest regards

aole - no

hale - house or building

hana - work

haole - Caucasian (originally meant foreigner)

Hauoli la hanau - Happy birthday

Hauoli makahiki hou - Happy New Year

Heiau - temple, ancient worship ground

hele - go or walk around

hiamoe - to sleep

ho’olohe - to listen

hui - a group, meeting or society

hula - native Hawaiian dance

imu - underground oven

ipo - sweetheart, lover, girl- or boyfriend

ka’a - car

kahuna - teacher or priest

kai - ocean

kamaaina - native born, long-time island resident, local

kane - man

kapu - forbidden

kaukau - food

keiki - child

komo mai - please come in, enter, welcome

kupuna - grandparent

kokua - help

lanai - porch or patio

lei - traditional garland of flowers or vines

lomi lomi - traditional Hawaiian massage

lua - toilet, restroom

luau - a Hawaiian feast featuring poi, imu-baked pork and other traditional foods.

mahalo - thank you

makai - toward the sea

malihini - newcomer, visitor

mauka - toward the mountains, inland

mauna - mountain

mele - a Hawaiian chant or song

Mele kalikimaka - Merry Christmas

menehune - a Hawaiian dwarf or elf

moana - ocean

nani - beautiful

ohana - family

Okole maluna - cheers, bottoms up

Olu’olu - please

ono - delicious, delightful, the best

opu - stomach

pali - cliff

paniolo - a Hawaiian cowboy

pau - finished

Pehea’oe? How are you?

pono - excellent

pua - flower

puka - a hole of any size

punee - bed

pupu - an appetizer, snack, hors d’oeuvres

pupule - crazy

tapa - traditional paper cloth made from beaten bark.

tutu - grandmother

wahine - woman

wai - fresh water

wiki - quickly, fast

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Aloha mahalo

(just beginning to learn)

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