Glossary of common Hawaiian Words and Phrases
The Hawaiian alphabet contains 12 letters; seven consonants (H, K, L, M, N, P, and W) and five vowels (A, E, I, O, and U). Every vowel should be pronounced. Here is a pronounciation guide.
a like a in above e like ay in play i like ee in see o like o in sole u like oo in moonCommon Words
- ahi
- yellow-fin tuna
- aikane (ai-ka-nay)
- friend
- alaea
- red water-soluble soil used for coloring salt, for medicine and as a dye
- aloha (a-lo-ha)
- hello, goodbye, love, and many others
- auwe (a-oo-way)
- ouch
- awa
- native shrub whose root was used to make a narcotic drink
- ewa (ay-va)
- opposite direction from Diamond Head
- haku
- to compose, weave or arrange
- hala
- the pandanus tree, whose leaves are plaited into mats, baskets and hats
- halau
- hula troupe
- hale
- house
- heiau
- ancient place of worship
- humuhumunukunukuapuaa (hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-coo-noo-coo-a-poo-a-a)
- a tropical fish smaller than it's name
- ieie
- a woody climbing plant that grows in the mountains. One of five plants placed on the hula altar
- ilima
- native shrubs bearing yellow, orange, greenish or dull-red flowers
- ipo
- sweetheart
- kalai waa
- canoe carver
- Kalakaua (ka-la-ka-oo-a)
- main street of Waikiki, named after former king
- Kalanianaole (ka-la-nee-a-na-o-lay)
- major highway named for Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole
- kamani
- a large tree with white, orange blossom-like flowers
- kane (ka-nay)
- man
- Kapiolani (ka-pee-o-la-nee)
- main Honolulu boulevard named after a former queen
- keiki (kay-ee-kee)
- baby, child
- kii pohaku
- petroglyph
- kokua (ko-koo-a)
- help
- kukui
- candlenut tree, bearing nuts containing white oily kernels which were used for lighting by ancient Hawaiians
- Likelike (lee-kay-lee-kay)
- highway named after former prince
- mahalo (ma-ha-lo)
- thank you
- lomilomi
- to rub, press, knead as in massage
- maile
- native twining shrub with fragrant leaves
- makai (ma-ka-ee)
- to the sea
- makamaka (ma-ka-ma-ka)
- dear friend; preceded by na -- dear friends
- malihini (ma-lee-hee-nee)
- newcomer
- mana
- spiritual power
- mano
- shark
- mauka (ma-oo-ka)
- to the mounain
- ohana (o-ha-na)
- family
- ono
- large mackerel-type fish; delicious, tasty, savory
- opakapaka
- blue snapper
- opihi
- limpet
- paakai
- salt
- pikake
- shrub with small, white, very fragrant flowers (lilac)
- pali (pa-lee)
- steep cliffs
- pau (pa-oo)
- finished, over
- pupu (poo-poo)
- appetizer, hors d'oeuvre
- ulu
- breadfruit tree
- ulu maika
- stone used in playing the maika game (bowling)
- waa kaulua
- double canoe
- wahine (wa-hee-nay)
- woman
- Waimea (wa-ee-may-a)
- Oahu North Shore bay, Big Island town
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This page was last updated on: January 21, 1996
WebMaster: PJ Oda poda@lava.net
