- Akebono
- Japanese name for the Hawai'i-born Samoan who became the first non-Japanese Yokozona (means
"Grand-Champion" of Japan's national sport, Sumo). Local Hero. Also known as Chad Rowan.
- Ala Moana
- major shopping centre just west of Waiki-ki-. Sometimes sarcastically translated as "too
rich for local folk". At one time (20 years ago?), it was the largest mall in the world.
- Ala Wai Canal
- hockey-stick-shaped body of water that separates the district of Waikiki (2 blocks deep by 16
wide) from the city of Honolulu. The "Handle" runs from East to West, and the stick forms the
westernmost boundary of Waikiki. The Hard Rock Cafe is just out side of Waikiki at the intersection
of Kala-kaua and Kapiolani, just past where the "handle" and "blade" meet.
- Arizona Memorial
- a memorial in Pearl Harbor for the USS Arizona which was sunk by the Japanese on December 7th,
1941 with the loss of over 1,000 men. From time to time, sailors cremated remains are still interned
there, by special request. The "tour" is free, and includes a 30 minute video presentation with alot
of footage that was also used in the movie "Tora! Tora! Tora!", whereupon you are escourted out to
the memorial on a Navy launch. No part of the memorial touches the ship, and with the exception of
a single, solitary flag-mast, every other part of the ship has been removed down to just inches
below the low-tide mark.
- B-52
- Coloquial name for the rather large (2+" long) variant of Cockroach (the insect) that is ...
"native" to Hawai'i.
- Banzai Pipeline
- place on the North Shore of O'ahu where the waves get huge!
- Big Island
- The second name of the island of Hawai`i, so called because it is the largest of the eight
major islands.
- Billabong Classic
- World-wide surfing championship on the North Shore. Usually held around Christmas-time.
- Bishop Estate
- Land Trust of the late Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop managed for the benefit of the
Kamehameha (private) schools, which cater mostly to children having some measure of Hawaiian
ancestry.
- Bishop Museum
- Major site of Hawaiian artifacts, etc.
- Blue Hawai`i
- Alcoholic bevereage; rum and something blue. Almost as bad as a "Mai Tai."
- Bows
- Abbreviation of the name "Rainbows," the sports teams from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa.
- broke da mouth
- Pidgin term for "delicious", or "very tasty".
- BYU
- Brigham Young University in Laie, near the Polynesian Cultural Center.
- cockaroach
- Pidgin term for "steal", or "take". Not to be confused with 'cockroach', an insect, also
infamous in Hawai`i.
- DHHL
- Department of Hawaiian Home-Lands.
- dim sum
- Chinese cuisine; refers to 'nibble food', similar to hors d'oeuvres, aka "pupus".
- FS
(LH)
- "Fee Simple". Real Estate term. It means you own the house, and the land under it, which
is not always the case in the state of Hawai'i.
- H-1
- "Interstate Highway 1." Main highway east-west through Honolulu, Also H-2 (north-south) and
H-3 Honolulu-to-Windward (new highway causing some political problems in O`ahu because it may be
disturbing some Heiau s.
- Hawaiian Time
( See also HST)
- Local concept; refers to a common laid-back attitude about deadlines and business hours. To
convert a time to Hawaiian Time, take the hour figure and preceed it with "somewhere near (or
after)".
- HI
- The two letter abbreviation for the state of Hawai`i; not to be confused with "HI!" an
enthusiastic greeting.
- hibiscus
- The state flower; a broad-petaled with a prominent extending stamen, plants varying widely in
flower color.
- howzit
- Pidgin word, a common greeting meaning "how is it?" Sometimes mistaken for a request to
"House-Sit" by non-locals....
- HST
- "Hawai`i Standard Time". During "Daylight Savings" in the summer, it is 3 hours behind Pacific
Daylight Time. During the winter, it is only 2 hours behind Pacific Standard Time.
- HVO
- Acronym for the Hawai`i Volcano Observatory, an authoritative institution of scientists
dedicating to studying and monitoring Hawaii's volcanic activity and geology, mostly on the Big
Island.
- `Iolani Palace
- "Hawk of Heaven" Palace. Build by King David Kala-kaua. Former site of Hawaii's monarchy, and
later republican government. Famous for its use as the headquarters of the state police in the TV
series "Hawai`i Five-O". Infamous as the 'Prison' of Queen Lili'uokalani during the time of the
Overthrow.
- kal-bi
- Korean cuisine; barbecued beef.
- kalua pig
- Hawaiian cuisine; shredded pork traditionally prepared in an underground oven (or "imu").
- kaukau
- Pidgin word for Sweet Potatoe or Yam, extended to refer to any type of food,
or more commonly, just the act of eating.
- kim chee
- Korean cuisine; spicy-hot pickled vegetables ("Cabbage with an Attitude!").
- Konishiki
(Akebono,
Musashimaru)
- Japanese name for another prominent Hawaiian-born sumo wrestling figure, who's "Real" name is
...(?). Almost made it to the status of Yokozuna (Grand Champion), but currently his star appears
to be waning.
- leeward
- A directional term generally meaning towards the southwest, which is usually the dry side of
the island.
- LH
(FS)
- Real-estate term; "Lease Hold." Refers to the practise of selling a home on-top
of leased land. Avoid if possible. I sometimes sarcastically refer to it as "fake estate".
- Likelike
- Named after princess Likelike, a north-south highway through the
Ko`olau mountains of O'ahu, running from Honolulu to the Windward side.
- Mai Tai
- Alcoholic beverage; rum, pineapple juice and *sugar*.
- malasada
- Portuguese cuisine; fried round doughnuts without holes.
Sometimes compared to "hush-puppies."
- neighbor islands
- Used informally to refer to any island of the Hawaiian chain other than O`ahu.
Also "outer islands."
- North Shore
- the North Shore of O'ahu. Famous for high winter surf conditions.
- outrigger
- Parallel-running canoe stabilizer. Also the name of a large hotel chain in Hawai`i.
- PCC
- Acronym for the Polynesian Cultural Center, a visitor attraction on the island of
O`ahu.
- Pearl Harbor
- The main military and commercial harbor on O`ahu, south of Pearl City and just west of
Honolulu. Famous as the site of the Japanese attack of December 7th, 1941, "A date that will live
in infamy", during which the USS Arizona was sunk, with the loss of most of her 1,000+ member crew.
- plate lunch
- A way to eat that is as much a serving style as it is a state of mind.
A "plate lunch" can generally be characterized by large portions and generous
scoops of sticky-prepared rice.
- Plumeria
- A super-fragrant, five-petaled yellow or pink blossom used to make leis. Sometimes referred to
as "Dead-Man's Flower".
- POG
- Acronym for "Passionfruit-Orange-Guava," a popular drink from Haleakala
Dairies on Maui. Also lends its name to the recent fad of collecting and gaming
with bottle-caps.
- Rainbows
- The University of Hawai`i at Manoa's sports teams, including football, volleyball, baseball,
etc. Sometimes shortened to "`bows", as in "Go Bows!"
- Saddle Road
- A mountain road on the Island of Hawai`i, running between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea (two of the
largest Hawaiian volcanoes) from Hilo to Kona. Several one-lane, deteriorated portions, blind hills
and turns, and home to diehard speeders. Rental cars are said to be forbidden. The only access road
for the Mauna Loa telescopes.
- sashimi
- Japanese dish consisting of a slice of raw fish on a piece of sticky rice, and
usually tied together with a small piece of Nori.
- shaka
- (uncertain derivation, NOT `o-lelo Hawai`i) A local greeting, vocalized or expressed as a hand
gesture where the thumb and little fingers are extended with the middle three closed. Synonymous
with "howzit?"
- shave ice
- Local cuisine; like a snow cone, but made more slushy and with a wider range of flavors. Also
known as "ice shave" in Hilo.
- sumo
- (j.) National sport of Japan, a few Hawai'i-born contenders currently taking top honors. Big
news in the islands. See "Akebono", "Konishiki" and "Musashimaru". See also Dale ....?
- sushi
- Japanese food consisting of flavored rice wrapped with other ingredients, sometimes covered in
dried seaweed ("Nori").
- talkstory
- Pidgin. A Hawai`i style gossip gathering. To tell stories, or just chat.
- UH
- Acronym for the University of Hawai`i. There are several campuses -- UHM (Manoa campus), UHH
(Hilo campus), UHWO (West O`ahu campus) and UHWH (West Hawai`i campus). Most people use UH to
refer to the Manoa campus, if not the entire university system.
- Vulcans
- From the name of the lame Roman god of Blacksmiths who lived in a volcano so he could be near
his forge. The University of Hawai`i at Hilo's sports teams, including baseball, volleyball and
tennis. Also "Vuls." Not to be confused with Spock.
- windward
- A directional term generally meaning to the northeast, from which direction come the
traditional trade-winds, which usually keep the islands at their pleasant, year-round temperature
of about 80-85f.
- zori
- Japanese word for rubber or foam sandals; simple in design.
Also known as "slippahs" (slippers), "flip-flops" or "thongs."
Last updated: 1997 september 13th.
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Aloha from
michael j. wise !