BASIC HAWAIIAN WORDS & PHRASES
Mon, June 1, 2009
By Yvonne Ahearn (B), Realtor-Broker in Hawaiiana & Local Custom, Miscellaneous, basic hawaiian words and phrases
 
 A Hui Hou – Until we meet again  Kane – man
 ‘Aina – land  Kahuna – priest, minister or expert any any profession
 Ali’i – royalty  Kapuna – grandparent, elder, respected older person
 Aloha – hello, goodbye, love  Keiki – child
 Aloha nui loa – with very much love  Kokua - help
 E Komo Mai – welcome  Kumu – teacher
 Hale – house  Mahalo – thank you
 Hana - work  Makua- parent
 Hana Hou – encore, do it again, repeat, once more  Malihini – stranger, tourist, foreigner
 Haole – white person, Caucasian  Mele Kalikimaka - Merry Christmas
 Hapa - mixed race  No Ka Oi – the best, none better
 Hau’oli Makahiki - Happy New Year  O’hana - family
 Hau’oli La Hanau - Happy Birthday  Ono – delicious
 Honu – sea turtle  Pau – done, finished, over with
 Lana’i – porch, patio or balcony  Pau Hana – end of the work day, work is done, happy hour
 Lei – necklace made of flowers, leaves, nuts and/or shells, used in welcoming or honoring people  Pupus – hor d’oevres, appetizers
 Lokahi -unity  Tutu – grandparent
 Luau – Hawaiian feast, party  Wahine - woman
 Kai – the sea  Wikiwiki - speedy, quick
 Kama’aina – (of the land) born & raised in Hawaii, having lived here a long time, a Hawaii resident  

HAWAIIAN GEOGRAPHY & REAL ESTATE TERMS

Many of these words are used as (or as parts of) place names, street names, housing developments, etc. Learn these and you will always know where you are going!

Aku 
– directional, away (from me)

Akau – North

Awaawa – valley

‘Aina – the earth or land (that feeds)

Ala – road or path, often used in street names, such as “Ala Moana”

Caldera – A geographic feature formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption (actually, not a Hawaiian word, comes from a Spanish word)

Ewa – used as a direction, to the West or Leeward side of the island of Oahu (i.e., toward Ewa Beach)

Haku’aina – landlord, landowner

Halau – school, meeting house

Hale – house or building

Hanauma – curved bay

Hawai’i – the 50th State of the US, comprised of a chain of 7 islands; also, the largest island of the Hawaiian island chain, also known as “the Big Island”

Helu – number

Hema – South

Hikina – East

Honolulu – the capital of and most populated city in the State of Hawaii, located on the island of Oahu

Iki – small

Kahakai - beach

Kahawai – stream

Kai - sea

Kailua (Town) – city on Oahu, meaning “two seas,” not to be confused with Kailua-Kona, the city named Kailua in the Kona region of the Big Island (Hawai’i).

Kama’aina – local person, native, resident of Hawai’i

Kaua’i – The Eastern-most island of the Hawaiian island chain, known as the Garden Isle

Koko – used as a direction, to the East or Windward side of the island of Oahu (i.e., toward the Kokohead Crater)

Komohana – West

Kona – Leeward

Ko’olau – Windward, the name of shield volcano that formed the Ko’olau Mountain Range on O’ahu

Lani – heaven

Lana’i – porch, balcony or veranda - one of the Hawaiian Islands

Lua – restroom; crater

Lumi kuke – kitchen

Makai – toward the sea

Makani – wind

Mauka – toward the mountains

Malahini – visitor, tourist, foreigner

Mauna – mountain

Moana – ocean

Moku - island

Nani – beautiful

Nui – big or large

‘Ohana – a separate living unit, attached to or on the property of another home, usually for extended family.

O’ahu – the State of Hawaii’s most populated island, known as the Gathering Place, second from the left in the Hawaiian island chain

Pa’a’aina – landholder

Pali – cliff or cliffs

Pohaku – rock

Pu’u – hill

Wai – fresh water, river

Wai’ele - waterfall

Wakea – sky

Ua – Rain

Article originally appeared on Kailua Real Estate and Oahu Homes For Sale (http://www.homeshoppehawaii.com/).
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