Ka Papa `Ôlelo

 

The first-year Hawaiian language student, on the college level, is expected to master this vocabulary list. A familiarity with these words is a confidence-builder, giving the serious student a tremendous headstart in the language. 

Please reload this site from time to time, as I am collecting "first-year" words from several sources and will be adding them to this list.

 

A

 

a

of

alaka`i

lead, leader

au

I, time period

alaloa

highway

auê

Oh no! Alas!

alanui

street, road

aupuni

government, country

alelo

tongue

ahi

fire

ali`i

noble, royal

ahiahi

evening

ama

outrigger float

akahele

be careful of

anuanu

cold

akamai

intelligent

apolima

bracelet

aku

fish: mackerel

awakea

noontime

akua

god, God

a`a

root

ala

awake

a`o

learn, teach

alahele

pathway

a`u

(replaces au after me)

a laila

then

 

 

 

`A

 

`ai

eat

`alawa

to glance downward

`aihue

steal; thief

`anakala

uncle

`aikalima

ice cream

`anakê

aunty

`aila

oil, fat, grease

`ane`i

here (always ma`ane`i, i`ane`i)

`aina ahiahi

evening meal

`ane`i mai

this side of

`aina awakea

lunch

`ano

type, kind

`aoa

bark at

`ano nui

important

`ao`ao

page

`ano`ano

seed

`au

stem; swim (toward something)

`ano`ê

strange, funny kine

`Aukake

August

`Apelila

April

`auinalâ

afternoon

`awapuhi

ginger, known for its fragrant flowers

`aumakua

guardian spirits; family gods

`a`ala

smell fragrant; smell good

`au`au

take a bath; swim around in the water

`âina

land

`aka`aka

laugh

`âinahânau

birthplace

`aka`akai

onion

`âhui

(fruit / flower) cluster

`aka`akailau

green onion

`âkala

pink

`aka`akaipoepoe

round onion

`âkau

north, right

`ako

pick off a plant

`âko`ako`a

coral pieces

`ala

fragrance, smell

`âpana

piece

`alani

orange

`âwîwî

quick, fast, swift

 

E

 

e

do something

emi

cheap

  

`E

 

`eiwa

number nine

`eleweka

elevator

`eono

number six

`ele`ele

black

`ehâ

number four

`eli

dig, dig up

`ehiku

number seven

`elima

number five

`ehu

reddish hair

`elua

number two

`ekahi

number one

`enuhe

caterpillar

`eke

bag, purse

`ewalu

number eight

`ekolu

number three

`e`e

board, get on top of something

`elemakule

old man

`êheu

wing

 

H

 

Haole

Caucasian

hohono

bad-smelling

hau

ice

hohonu

deep

haumâna

student

hola

hour, time

haupia

coconut pudding

holo

run, ride on

hau`oli

happy, fun, joy

holoholo

ride/walk around for fun

hahai

follow

holoholona

animal

hakakâ

fight

holoi

wash, wipe

haku

compose

honi

smell, kiss

hala

passed by, pass; the fruit of pûhala

Honolulu

capital city

hale

building, house

honu

turtle

haleka`a

garage, carport

honua

ground, earth, world

haleki`i`oni`oni

movie theatre

hope

behind, after

halekula

school building

hopenapule

weekend

halekû`ai

store

ho`â

turn on (light, electricity

haleleka

post office

ho`âla

wake up (someone)

halepe`a

tent

ho`i

go back

halepule

church

ho`i mai

come back

hale`aina

restaurant, cafeteria

ho`ohau`oli

have fun; do fun things

halihali

carry, transport (cargo, baggage)

ho`ohâlike

compare

hana

work

ho`ohuli

turn something over

hana`ino

mistreat

ho`oilo

winter

hanini

to be spilled

ho`okahi

one (amount)

hapahâ

quarter

ho`okahi haneli

one hundred (number and amount)

hapalua

half

ho`okano

conceited

hapanui

majority

ho`okipa

invite in guests, treat hospitably

hâli`i

spread out (mat, blanket)

ho`okomo

put inside, insert

hâmama

open, unobstructed

ho`oku`i

to join things together

hânai

feed, raise (animals, people); adopted/foster child

ho`olauna

introduce; introduce someone

hânau

give birth

ho`olohe

listen

hâpai

pregnant; carry, lift

ho`omaka

begin, start

hâpu`u

tree fern

ho`oma`ama`a

pracice

ha`alele

to leave a place, abandon something

ho`oma`ema`e

clean something

ha`awina

lesson

ho`omâkaukau

prepare

ha`i

inform, tell, reveal

ho`omoana

to camp

hâ`awi

give

ho`omo`a

cook

hâ`awi mai

give (me, us)

ho`opae

bring shore, cast ashore

hâ`ule

fall (throught the air)

ho`opa`a

to make firm, to learn

hâ`ulelau

fall (season)

ho`opa`a hau

to freeze something

he

a

ho`opa`a noho

reserve a seat

hea

where (always i hea)

ho`opiha

to fill something up

heihei

race

ho`opili mai

imitate (me)

hele

go

ho`opio

turn off (light, electricity)

hele mai

come

ho`owali

mix (poi)

helu

number

ho`oûlu

grow (something), raise (plants)

heluhelu

read

hoe

hema

south, left

hôkele

hotel

hemahema

unskilled, awkward

hô`ailona

sign, symbol

hemo

loose, unfastened

hô`oio

show off

hiamoe

sleep

hô`ole

deny, say no, negate

hiapo

first born child

hua

fruit, seed, tuber

hiki

possible; arrive

huamoa

(chicken) egg

hilahila

shame, shy, embarrassed,

huhû

angry, mad at

hinuhinu

shiny

hui

club, organization

hipa

sheep

hui mokulele

airline company

hîmeni

song, sing

huki

pull, pull out

hînano

flower of the pûhala

huli

taro slip; search for, look for; turn a corner, face a different direction

hoaaloha

friend

feather

hulu

hoahânau

cousin

hu`ihu`i

chilly

hoe

paddle

 

 

 

I

 

i

in, on, at; to

imu

underground oven

ia

he, she (or `o ia); the aforesaid

inoa

name

Ianuali

January

inoahope

last name

Iulai

July

inu

drink

Iune

June

ipuhao

pot

ihu

nose

iwakâlua

twenty

ikaika

strong

iwi

bone, shell

ikîki

hot and humid

 

 

 

`I

 

`iako

outrigger of the canoe

`ili`ili

pebbles

`ike

see, know

`i`o

meat, flesh, beef

`ili

skin, surface

`îkoi

(fruit) core

`iliwai

waterhose

`îlio

dog

 

K

 

ka

the

Kekemapa

December

kai

sea, salt water; gravy, sauce; seaward

kekona

scond (as in time)

kaikaina

boy’s younger brother; girl’s younger sister

kelepona

telephone

kaikamahine

girl, daughter

Kepakemapa

September

kaikua`ana

boy’s older brother; girl’s older sister

Kepanî

Japanese

kaikuahine

boy’s sister

ke`oke`o

white

kaikunâne

girl’s brother

kêia

this

kai nîoi

chili pepper water

kêlâ

that

kao

goat

kênâ

that (by you)

kaomi

press (button)

kihi

corner (outside point)

kaona

town; hidden meaning

kikokiko

spots, spot

kau

ride a vehicle; be on top of something; position

kiloi

throw

kauoha

order, command

kini

can

kauka

doctor

kinipôpô

ball (for games)

kaula

string, rope, cord

kino

body

kaulana

famous

kipikua

pick

kaumaha

sad, heavy

ki`i

picture; go get, fetch

kauwela

summer

ki`i`oni`oni

movie

kahakai

beach

tea

kahawai

stream, river

kîkî

shoot (water, insecticide)

kahi

to comb, shave; comb; smooth out; ka + wahi, the place

kîwai

water faucet handle

kahiko

old, ancient

kîwî

T.V.

kahua mau`u

grassy yard

kî`aha

(drinking) glass

kahua mokulele

airport

koa

type of wood

kahua pâ`ani

playground

koe

remain, left, more

kahuna

priest, skilled person, expert

ko ka wahine

the woman’s

kakani

crunchy, as in good `opihi

kokoke

close, near, almost

kala

color

kokoleka

chocolate

kalaiwa

drive a car

ko Lani

Lani’s

kalaka

truck

kolo

crawl

kali

wait for, wait

kolohe

rascal

Kalikimaka

Christmas

komo

enter, go in

kalima

cream

kona

his / her

kalipa

slipper

kono

invite

kalo

taro

kopalâ

shovel

kamali`i

children

kope

rake; coffee

kama`ilio

converse

kopekope

to rake

kamu

chewing gum

kou

your

kanaiwa

number ninety

ko`e

earthworm

kanaka

man, human being

ko`u

my

kanakolu

number thirty

kôkua

help, aid

kanapî

centipede

kôlea

plover, carpetbagger

kani

make a sound, chime, sing (bird)

kua

back (body part)

kanu

to plant, bury

kuahiwi

mountain

kapakahi

crooked

kuawa

guava

kapu

forbidden, sacred, taboo

kuene

flight attendant; waiter / waitress

kapuahi

stove

kui

to string as a lei;needle, pin, nail

kawowo

seedling

kuhikuhi

to point out

ka`a

car

kuka

coat

ka`u

my

kuke

cook

ka`ukama

cucumber

kukui

light fixture; candlenut tree

kâu

your

kukuihelepô

lantern

kâua

we (you and I)

kukû

thorn

kâhea

call out

kula

school

kâ ka wahine

the woman’s

kumu

reason; teacher

kâkou

we (you folks and I)

kumukula

school teacher

kâlai

to hoe

kumulâ`au

tree (any kind)

kâlani

gallon

kumumanakô

mango tree

kâ Lani

Lani’s

kupa

cook by boiling; soup

kâlâ

money, dollar

kupulau

spring (season)

kâ lâkou

their

kupuna

grandparent, elder

kâlua

to cook in an imu

kupunakâne

grandfather

kâma`a

shoe

kupunawahine

grandmother

kâna

his / her

ku`i

pound, punch

kâpena

captain

ku`i `opihi

pound / pick `opihi

kâpiki

cabbage

poked, such a wound; stand; stop

kâpî

sprinkle on (as salt)

kûkae

excrement (lepo is more polite)

kâpulu

sloppy, poorly done

kûkaepele

sulphur, match

kâwele

towel, napkin

kûkulu

set up, build

kâ `olua

your

(two persons)

kûkû

grandparent, Tûtû

kâ `oukou

your ( more than two persons)

kûlou

bend down

ke

the

kûpono

appropriate

keiki

boy, son, child

kû`ai aku /

kû`ai aku

buy / sell

keikikâne

boy, son

kû`ai `emi

sale

kekahi

one, one of the, another, the other, a certain

 

 

 

L

 

laiki

rice

lele

to fly, to get off a vehicle

laila

there (always i laila, ma leila)

lepo

dirty; soil, dirt

laina

line

lewa

to be suspened with gentle movement i the air; sky, airspace

lau

leaf, sweet potato stem slip

le`ale`a

amusement, pleasure

laua`e

maile-scented fern

lêkiô

radio

lauoho

hair (on the head)

lêkô

watercress

laulau

meat bundled in leaves

lio

horse

launa

meet socially, socialize

lihikai

area close to beach

lahilahi

thin, delicate

like

same, similar to

lakeke

jacket

lima

hand

lalo

below, under

limu

seaweed, algae

lana

float

li`ili`i

small

lanakila

to have victory, victory

loa`a

be found, caught, possessed

lani

sky, heaven, royal

lou

hand pole for picking fruit; to pick witha lou

lawa

enough

lohe

hear

lawai`a

to fish for; fisherman

lohi

late, slow

lawe

take

loko

inside; innards

laweleka

mail carrier

lole

clothes, dress

lawe mai

bring

lole`au`au

swim clothes

day

loli

changed

lâua

they (two people)

lomi

rub softly between fingers

lâ hânau

birthday

lôlô

dumb, paralyzed (as a leg)

lâkou

they (more than two persons)

lô`ihi

long, tall

lâlani

to line up

lua

hole, pit, crater

lâlâ

branch

luahine

old woman

lânai

porch, veranda

lua`i

vomit

Lâpule

Sunday

lumi

room

lâ`au

wood

lumiho`okipa

living room, parlor

lâ`auhihi

vine

lumikuke

kitchen

lâ`aumake

poison, herbicide

lumi moe

bedroom

lei

garland; to wear around the neck as a lei

luna

on top, above

leiwili

a kind of lei

lû`au

feast; taro tops

leka

mail, letter

 

 

lekuke

lettuce

 

 

 

M

 

ma

in, on, at

mâhele

portion, part

"and others"

mâkaukau

ready, good at it

mae

wilt

mâka`i

police officer

mai

don’t (do something); from

mâka`ika`i

sightsee, tour

maiâ

from

mâkeke

market

maika`i

good, fine

mâkou

we (they and I)

maile

fragrant vine, leaves used for lei-making

mâla

garden

maopopo

clear, understood, understandable

mâlama

take care of, keep

mau`u

grass

mâlie

calm, gentle; windless, sunny

maha`oi

nosey, bold

mâluhiluhi

tired

mahikô

sugar plantation

mâmâ

mommy

mahina

month

mâ`ona

full (of food)

mahimahi

dolphin fish

me

with

maka

eye, face

mea

thing, person, one; `ôlelo

makaaniani

eyeglasses

meainu

drink

makaiauli

kind of `opihi

meakanu

plant

makahiki

year

mea wa`uniu

coconut grater

makana

gift

mea`ai

food

makani

wind

Mei

May

makapô

blind

mele

song, sing

maka`u

fear, be afraid of

melemele

yellow

make

dead, die

mile

mile

makewai

thirsty

minuke

minute

makua

parent

mâkini

machine

makuahine

mother

moe

lie down; bed

makuakâne

father

moena

mat

Malaki

March

moku

cut

malo`o

dry

mokulele

island

mamao

far, distant

mole

tap root

manakô

mango

momona

fa, sweet-tasting

manauea

seaweed, "ogo"

mo`a

cooked

manamanalima

finger

mo`olelo

story

mana`o

think

mo`opuna

grandchild

manu

bird

môhala

open (flower)

ma`a

accustomed to, used to

mô`î

king, queen

ma`alahi

easy

mua

in front, before

ma`alili

cool after being hot

muliloa

last born child

ma`ema`e

clean

mu`umu`u

Hawaiian-style dress

ma`i

sick

boring insect, weevil, termite

mâua

we (he and I)

 

 

 

N

 

na

for, belonging to, by

ninini

pour

nalowale

 

nîele

inquisitive, interrogate

nalu

disappeared, lost

nî`oi

chili pepper

nanea

wave, surf

nînau

ask a question

nani

enjoyable, enjoy

no

for, belonging to, by

na`au

pretty, beautiful

noi

ask for, request

intestines

noho

chair; sit; live

 

the (more than one

Nowemapa

November

nâki`i

tie

no`eau

cleverly done

nânahu

charcoal

no`ono`o

consider, ponder, think up

nânâ

look, watch, observe

nui

large, plenty

niu

coconut

nuha

sulky, pouty

niho

tooth

nunui

huge

nihoniho

serrated

 

 

 

O

 

o

of

one

sand

ola

healthy, alive, life

one hânau

birthplace (poetic)

 

`O

 

`oe

you (one person)

`opihi

mollusk, limpet

`oi

sharper; -er, better, worse

`opihi `âlinalina

a kind of `opihi

`oia`i`o

true; truly

`o`o

mature

`oukou

you folks (more than two)

fork; there (always ma `ô); jab, poke, spear

`ohi

gather, pick up, collect

`ô aku

beyond

`Okakopa

October

`ôhi`alomi

tomato

`oki

cut

`ôlala

bask in the sun

`okika

orchid

`ôlelo

speak; language

`oki`oki

chop up, cut up

`ôlelo no`eau

traditional saying, proverb

`oko`a

different

`ôma`ima`i

somewhat sick; not feeling well

`ole

un-, be non-existent, nothingness

`ômole

bottle

`olua

you folks (two)

`ôpala

rubbish, trash

`olu`olu

comfortable, pleasant, nice

`ôpiopio

young

`oma

oven; bake

`ôpû

stomach, belly

`ono

delicious

`ôpûkû

tripe stew

 

P

 

pae

for a plane to land

pipi

cow

paia

wall (of a house

pipipi

sea snails

paikikalo

bicycle

pîkake

white fragrant flower; peacock

paila

pile, be boiling (as water)

poepoe

round

pailaka

pilot

poi

staff of life from taro

paipu

pipe

poina

forget

pau

used up, over, ended, disappeared

pouli

dark (as sky)

pahi

knife

poupou

short and husky

pahi`umi`umi

razor

pohihihi

confusing, not clearly understood

pahuhau

ice box

poho

chalk

pahuleka

mailbox. address

pohô

in vain, wasted

paka

tobacco

poke

marinated raw fish chunks; to remove meat from `opihi shell

pakalaki

unlucky

poko

cutworm

pakû

for the contents of something; to burst out

pola

bowl

pala

ripe

poloka

frog

palai

fry

pololei

correct, straight

palaoa

bread, rolls

polû

blue

palaunu

brown

poluea

sea /air / car

sick

sea

brown

poni

purple

palaki

to brush, brush

ponolawai`a

fishing supplies

pali

cliff

popopo

rotten (wood, leaves, carpet)

palula

sweet potato greens

po`e

people

palupalu

soft

po`i

break (as a wave)

papa

class

po`o

head

papahele

floor

night

papamanawa

timetable, schedule

pôhaku

rock, stone

papa`ele`ele

blackboard

pôkole

short

pa`a

stuck, firm

pôloli

hungry

pa`a

pair

pôpoki

cat

pa`akai

salt

Pô`aono

Saturday

pa`akikî

hard, stubborn, difficult

Pô`ahâ

Thursday

fence, wall; yard; plate, shine (sun), blow (wind)

Pô`akahi

Monday

pâiki, pâisi

purse, suitcase

Pô`akolu

Wednesday

pâilina

graveyard

Pô`alima

Friday

pâka

park

Pô`alua

Tuesday

pâkaukau

table

pô`ele`ele

dark, without light

pâkeke

bucket

pua

flower

Pâkê

Chinese

puaaloalo

hibiscus

pâlule

shirt

puahala

cut hala fruit

pâ mea`ai

plate lunch

puakenikeni

fragrant orange flower

pâpa`a

burnt, charred

puamale

stephanotis

pâpa`u

shallow (water)

puamêlia

plumeria

pâpâ

daddy

pua`a

pig

pâ`ani

play (as in games)

puhi

smoke (tobacco); eel

pâ`ina

meal, supper, party

puka

doorway, door, hole, perforation;

come out, go out

peni

pen

Pukikî

Portuguese

penikala

pencil

pule

pray; prayer; week

pepa

paper; pepper

pulu

wet; coconut husk

Pepeluali

February

puna

spoon

pêkona

bacon

pupule

crazy

pêpê

baby

pu`e

hill of dirt for planting `uala

pia

beer

pûhala

hala tree

pio

out (as a light of fire)

pûlehu

cook on hot coals

piha

full

pûpû

shells, mollusks; hors d’oeuvres

pihi

button

pû`ali

to have a groove

pikiniki

to picnic, picnic

pû`alikoa

army, military

pîlau

stench (milder word is hohono)

pû`iwa

surprised, shocked, startled

pilikia

trouble, hassle

pû`olo

package

 

U

 

ua

rain

uku

pay

uaki

watch, clock

uliuli

deep dark color, blue greenish

uea

wire

ulu

to grow up

cry (tears)

ululâ`au

forest

uka

inland

umauma

chest

ukana

baggage, carried belongings

u`i

(youthfully) good-looking, beautiful

 

`U

 

`uala

sweet potato

`umikûmâkahi

number eleven

`ualakahiki

Irish potato

`umi`umi

beard, mustache, whiskers

`uî

squeeze out

`upena

net (fishing)

`ula`ula

red

`u`u

to strip stem from vine, as with maile

`umi

number ten

`ûpâ

scissors

 

W

 

waele

to weed

wa`a

canoe

waena

between, among, intermediate

wa`u

grate

wai

fresh water; who

wâwae

foot, leg

waiû

milk

wâwae`iole

"rat foot" (seaweed)

waiûpaka

butter

wehe

open, take off

waiho

to put something some place, leave something

weka

innards of `opihi

waiho`olu`u

color

wela

hot

wainiu

coconut milk / water

welelau

tip

waiwai

rich, valuable

wikiwiki

fast

wahine

woman

wili

to twist something around something

waho

outside

wîwî

skinny

 

 

Note: These glosses are partial. More definitions are to be found in the source: Pukui, Mary Kawena & Elbert, Samuel H., HAWAIIAN DICTIONARY, UH Press, 1975.

 

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Aloha a hui hou, Leilani