The following is a glossary of Hawaiian and Hawaiin Pidgin words and phrases you will likely see or hear when you are in Hawaii. The 50th State is the only state in the United States to have two official languages. These two languages are English and Hawaiian. Locals also speak Hawaiian Pidgin, a creole that has developed over the generations in Hawaii's rainbow of cultures that immigrated during the plantation days when Pidgin served as a universal sort of language in the islands. .
Note of apology: While, the Hawaiian language uses two diacritical markings, the kahakô, indicating that the vowel sound is to be elongated, and the `okina, indicating a break in the breath, these markings aren't universal yet on the Internet or keyboards.
However, I was able to keep them intact in some words by copying and pasting words that have them already. While I would have liked to have used them consistently, I felt it was important to at least try to use them in the names of individual’s and organizations that do so.
Plurals - There is no pluralization in the Hawaiian language; in other words, it's
lei not leis, no matter how many lei the new graduate or birthday gal has been given.
Ahi : Yellow-tale tuna
Aina: Hawaii’s natural environment, or more specifically, land.
Aloha nui loa: Much aloha.
A hui hou!: Until we meet again (literally “Until we gather.”
Aloha nui loa: Much aloha.
Chicken skin: Goose bumps.
Da Kine: A Pidgin phrase used often, in much the way “whatchamacallit,” or “you know,” is used.
Eva: A direction used in South Oahu instead of East and West, meaning going in the direction of Eva Plantation instead of towards Diamond Head.
Grinds: Pidgin for food.
Haole: Caucasian, usually referring to American or Northern European Caucasion. Portuguese are considered local. A haole kamaaian is called a “local haole.”
Haupia: A firm, coconut pudding served at luau.
Heiau: A place of worship.
Holoholo: To go for a drive or walk to no place in particular and just for fun.
Honu: Generally, the turtle, but has come to sometimes mean more specifically the Hawaiian green sea turtle.
Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a: The biggest word in the Hawaiian language that names the little, Hawaiian reef trigger fish.
Hui: A club or organized group.
Kahuku: North; also the name of the town on the Windward side’s North Shore.
Kupuna: Elder, ancestors.
Hawaiian Pidgin: A local slang that is consists of mostly Hawaiian and English words and that evolved from the languages of the various ethnic groups of immigrant who worked together on the plantations.
Kama ‘aina: Literally translates to “child of the land.” Kama 'aina status comes with acclimation to and embracement of Hawaii and its culture and acceptance by its people. As the Hawaiian Language Website points out, even though this words is also used loosely when referring to discount rates from those who have Hawaii drivers licenses, doing so “is abusive to its true meaning.”
Kanaka Maoli: Someone who has Hawaiian blood, whereas anyone born in Hawaii is a native of Hawaii.
Kiawe: A relative to the Southwest Mesquite family. Good for barbecues, but watch out for the thorns, especially in the sand if you are barefoot on a beach where kiawe grow.
Kapa: Forbidden; tabu.
Keiki: Children.
Kokua: To help as in “Please kokua and place your empty bottles in the recycle bin.”
Lauhala: Leaves of the hala (Pandanus) tree and used in weaving.
Laulau: Steamed taro leaves wrapped around a meat filling.
Lanai: Balcony, patio or porch.
Lilikoi: Passion fruit. Very good in jams, pie and juice, but rather tart when eaten fresh off the vine.
Lomi: Or lomilomi. Hawaiian massage. The luau favorite, lomi salmon, is called this because the salmon is rubbed with lime juice, which “cooks” it.
Luau: Feast. Named for the taro tops.
Mahimahi: Dolphin fish; nothing like the mammal!
Makai: Towards the sea.
Malama: To care for, to protect.
Malihini: Newcomer who has not yet achieved kama ‘aina status.
Mauka: Inland (Towards the mountain).
Neighbor Island: One of the six inhabited islands neighboring Oahu: the island of Hawaii, called the Big Island to avoid confusion with the State, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai and Niihau.
Ono, Onolicious: The first is Hawaiian for delicious. Onolicious is Pidgin.
Opihi: A limpet, shellfish. Usually harvested from the rocks where the surf breaks. A favorite local delicacy.
Pali: Cliff. The fluted precipices of the Ko ‘olau Mountain Range are called the Pali.
Pau: Finished.
Pau hana: Done with work for the day. Also, “Happy Hour.”
Poi: Hawaiian staple and very nutritious food mad from steamed taro (a root food similar to the potato) that is mashed, creating a purple pasty sauce.
Poke: Even though this ends with the “a” sound, it is usually pronounced “pokey” Usually pronounced pokey and at the Superette made with raw ahi fish and sea vegetables)
Pupu: Appetizer.
Pu‘uhonua: A place of refuge. In ancient times, a place where kapu breakers would be forgiven and freed from punishment if reached before capture. The pu ‘uhonua of Hawaii often feel very peaceful.
Talk story: Hawaiian Pidgin for chatting, but can mean more in that the term comes from a strong cultural tradition of storytelling. In Hawaii, chatting often involves involves telling stories to express ideas, experiences, feelings, etc.
Taro: This starcy tuber is either baked in an imu (underground ovens) or boiled and pounded into poi and has long been a Polynesian staple. It is good source of iron, calories and Vitamins B and C. Taro represents the Polynesian tradtion of shared labor and extended families. The the taro "'oha" or offshoots are used in Hawaii to symbolize ohana (family).
Trade Winds: The most common winds in Hawaii, they blow from NE to ENE direction. The name comes from centuries ago when trade ships carrying cargo depended on the broad belt of easterly winds encircling the globe in the subtropics for fast passage.
