Popular Hawaiian Words and Phrases!

The 5 vowels a,e,i,o and u as well as the 7 consonants h,k,l,m,n,p, and w make up the entire Hawaiian alphabet. In the Hawaiian language a consonant is always followed by a vowel which also means all Hawaiian words end in a vowel.

Names and words are more easily pronounced when they are broken down into single syllable chunks. Take the name of Hawaii’s state fish, humuhumunukunukuapua’a, and pronounce it hu-mu-hu-mu-nu-ku-nu-ku-a-pu-a-a.  Phonetically pronounced who-moo-who-moo-new-coo-new-coo-ah-poo-ah-ah. Sometimes the letter W is pronounced the same as V as in the traditional pronunciation of Hawai'i which is phonetically pronounced huh-vi-ee rather than huh-why-ee.

Stressed vowels

a - ah, as in car: aloha

e - a, as in may: nene

i - ee, as in bee: honi

o - oh, as in so: mahalo

u - oo, as in spoon: kapu Unstressed vowels

a - a, as in about: ali`i

e - eh, as in met: kane

 In the Hawaiian language a symbol directly over a vowel called a kahakô indicates that the vowel sound is to be elongated. A apostrophe like symbol called an `okina indicates a quick pause in the word, as in "ah-ah" for the word a`a. Note: These Hawaiian vocabulary words have not been written with the use of the correct kahakô markings due to the absence of a Hawaiian Font.

Below is a sample of popular Hawaiian phrases and words. Keep in mind we can not list every word translation. Tip: A trick if you are looking for a specific word translation is to depress the control key and the letter "f" key at the same time. It will bring up a find box. Type in the English word you would like a translation for and click the find next button. If the word is translated on this page it will bring you to it.

POPULAR
HAWAIIAN
WORDS & PHRASES

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Invited: Kono

Invitation: Palapala kono

Date/Time: Manawa

Place: Kauwahi

Directions: 'Ao'ao

Bring: Lawe mai

Attendance: Ma’ane’i

Reply/answer: Hua loa’a

I am coming/I will come: E hele mai ana au

I am busy: Pa`ahana nõ au

Don’t forget: Mai poina!

Anniversary: La ho'omana'o

Baby: Keiki or pepe

Birthday: La hanau

Come and eat: Mai e `ai

Celebration: Ho`olaule`a

Congratulate: Ho'omaika'i

Congratulations: Ho'omaika'i 'ana

Our Wedding Day: Ko maua la male 'ana

Promotion/promote: Ho’opi’i

Retirement/retire: Ho’omaha loa

Shower: Kuaua

Wedding: Male 'ana

Wedding feast: 'Aha'aina male

Sweet Sixteen: Momona 'Umi Kumaono

Please join us: Ho'olu komo la kaua

alaka’i ~ leader

ali`i ~ Hawaiian royalty

`anakala ~ uncle

`anake ~ aunt

haumana ~ student

hoahanau ~ cousin

hoa kula ~ classmate

hoaloha ~ beloved friend

hoapili ~ close friend

hui ~ staff, team, group

kahu lio ~ groom

kahuna ~ priest

kahuna pule ~ pastor

kaikamahine ~ daughter

kaikua'ana ~ older brother of a male

kaikaina ~ younger brother or sister of the same sex

kaiko'eke ~ brother in law

kaikua'ana ~ older sister of a female

kaikunane ~ older brother of a male

kaikuahine ~ sister of a male

kahuna ~ priest, skilled person, expert in a field

kamali`i ~ children

kanaka ~ human

kane ~ man

kane male ~ married man

kupunakane ~ grandfather, grandpa

kupunawahine ~ grandmother, grandma

keiki ~ child, children, kid, kids, offspring

keikikane ~ son

koa ~ soldier

kumu ~ teacher

kupuna ~ grandparent

ku`uipo ~ sweetheart

lawai ~`a fisherman

makamaka ~ intimate friend

makua ~ parent

makuahine ~ mother, mom, mama, mommy

makuakane ~ father, dad, pa, daddy

mo`i ~ royalty, King or Queen

mo`opuna ~ grandchild

ohana ~ family

paniolo ~ cowboy

wahine ~ woman

wahine makua ~ sister in law

wahine male ~ married woman

wahine male hou ~ bride

 M

mahalo ~ thank you

mahimahi ~ dolfin fish

mahina ~  moon

maika`i ~ good

makaainana ~ commoner

makahiki ~ Ancient Hawaiian celebration held annually with sports and religious festivities

maka`ika`i ~ tour, sight see

makai ~ towards the ocean

makana ~ gift

malihini ~ newcomer, visitor

mana ~ spiritual power

mana`o ~ think

mauka ~ inland, towards the mountains mauna mountain

maunu ~ bait

mele ~ song, sing

menehune ~ mythical elf like people who are rumored to have inhabited the Hawaiian islands before Polynesians

moe'uhane ~  dream

moku ~ island

mokulele ~ airplane

moana ~ ocean, sea

mo`o ~ lizard, reptile water spirit

mu’umu’u ~ long and loose fitting dress

 P

pa`akiki ~ stubborn

pahoehoe ~ smooth lava

palama ~ palm tree

pa'i palaoa ~ cake

pali ~ cliff

pau ~ done, completed

pinao ~ dragonfly

pipi ~ cow

pohaku ~ stone, rock

poi ~ pounded taro root

pololi ~ hungry

pomaika'i ~ good fortune/good luck

pu`iwa ~ surprise

puka ~ hole

pulehu ~ cook over hot coals

pulelehua ~ butterfly

punahele ~ favorite

pupu ~ appetizer, snack

pupule ~ crazy

pu`u ~ hill, cinder cone

 U

ua ~ rain

ue ~ cry

u`i ~ youthful looking, beautiful

uku ~ pay

ukulele ~ stringed instrument, small guitar

 W

wa`a ~ canoe

wai ~ water (not salt water)

wikiwiki ~ quickly, fast

wiwi ~ skinny

Sign up for the Virtual Aloha enewsletter which will bring you a monthly dose of Aloha sharing our latest Hawaii travel tips and activity reviews, suggestions to move to Hawaii, and Hawaiian theme celebration ideas!
Ask us anything Hawaii related, submit your questions!

Limited Offer: All Virtual Aloha enewsletter subscribers receive a free ebook with over 7,500 first names translated into Hawaiian! A fun resource book for translating your name and especially handy when having a Hawaiian themed celebration.