o-localhawaiian

Speak Hawaiian Like a Local ;-)

The truth of the matter is Hawaiian-speaking locals are a small minority, albeit a fast-growing one with the cultural renaissance and the revival of the Hawaiian language. Like most locals, I grew up learning a number of Hawaiian words. We liberally peppered our daily conversations with them, although we never spoke Hawaiian as a language, per se.

These are glosses, to be sure, but the words on this list is sure to give a beginner a measure of confidence, if not a major headstart in learning Hawaiian as a language. These are words that are commonly used in "localspeak." Try substituting appropriate Hawaiian words in your conversations; in no time, you too may be speaking Hawaiian like a local. Then, you can start working on speaking Hawaiian… like a Hawaiian.

Remember: anything worthwhile or of true value requires time, effort, commitment, and patience.

Source: Pukui, Mary Kawena & Elbert, Samuel H., Hawaiian Dictionary, Revised
and Enlarged Edition, University Of Hawai`i Press, Honolulu, 1986.

Pronunciation Guide

KA `ÔLELO HAWAI`I (HAWAIIAN):	KA `ÔLELO HAOLE (ENGLISH):	COMMENTS:
`Â. [AH']	Um.	English speakers say "um" when they pause or stammer while thinking what to say next. Hawaiians say, "`Â."
Aiâ! [ai (Y)AH' !]	Oh no! (Gasp!) Ouch!	Use this when something goes wrong. It is also used to express surprise, as from sudden expected pain.
A hui hou! [ah hui hou!]	Good bye! See you later!	Lit., "Till (we) meet again".
`a`â [ah AH']	rough, clinkery lava	Vs., pâhoehoe (smooth lava).
`a`ama [ah ah' mah]	large, black edible crab	Often seen scampering on the rocks. Eaten raw and salted, soft-shelled as caught when shedding old shell.
ahahana [ah hah hah' nah]	a taunting sing-song phrase, meaning "You're gonna get it!"	Other versions: Ahana [ah hah nah], Ahana kôkôlele [ah hah' nah KOH' KOH' leh leh]…you brok' my `ukulele!
aikâne [ai KAH' neh]	friend, pal, buddy; friendly
`ahi [ah' hee]	yellow-tail tuna	Makes `ono (delicious) poke (marinated raw fish chunks). Delicious, seared and served rare. More on Hawaiian fish.
`âina [AI' nah]	land, earth	As in, "Aloha `Âina" , (love of the land or of one's country)
akamai [ah kah mai']	smart, clever, wise, intelligent	Learn more about describing people.
Akua [ah koo' (w)ah]	God	Preceded by ke (the), as in "ke Akua" [keh (y)ah koo (w)ah].
`âkulikuli [AH' koo lee koo lee]	Ice plant, a succulent, cultivated at elevations of 1000 feet or more.	Iridescent flowers are made into lei; 500 blossoms if strung by fives to make a lei `â`î (lei for the neck):370 for a lei po`o (head lei) or a lei pâpale (hat lei).
ala [ah' lah] Ala Moana is pronounced [ah' lah moh (w)ah' nah]. Absolutely not: [alley-mo-wan- nah]	road, path / rise, awaken	Ala Moana Boulevard is redundant terminology: Ala = road moana = open sea boulevard = broad avenue (in French).
alanui [ah lah noo' (w)ee]	street, road	Lit., "big path".
ali`i [ah lee' ee]	chief / chiefess, royalty, /nobility/ a member of the chiefly class	These days, airlines use this word to signify "first class" , as in ali`i class.
Aloha [ah loh' hah]	love, greetings, goodbye, pity, compassion, mercy, affection, farewell ; spirit of love, affection, kindness	As in: Aloha wau iâ `oe (I love you); Aloha `oe (Farewell to you). Click here for more on Aloha.
ânuenue [AH' noo (w)eh noo (w)eh]	rainbow	Mânoa Valley, O`ahu, where the University of Hawai`i, Mânoa is situated, is famous for its rainbows. No surprise, that the students and athletes are known as "The Rainbows".
`auana [au (w)ah nah]	to go from place to place; wander; to drift	As in modern style of hula. Learn more about the different kinds of hula.
`au`au [au' au]	to bathe	As in, E `au`au ! (Go bathe!)
Auê! [au WEH'!]	Alas! Oh no! Drat! Oh dear! Oh boy! Too bad! Goodness! Oops!	This word is probably the best known expression of emotion in Hawaiian. It is a socially acceptable expletive to express wonder, fear, scorn, pity, disgust.
`aumâkua [au MAH' koo (w)ah]	ancestral, guiding spirits	More here on `aumâkua.
`Auwî ! [au WEE'!]	Ouch!	Learn more interjections.
`awapuhi [ah wah poo' hee]	wild flowering ginger plant, a forest herb	Fragrance of its flowers are heavenly ambrosia for the olfactories. Ingredient of Paul Mitchell's shampoo of the same name.