Hawaiian Words and Meanings

Hawaii, The Land of Vacation

Yeah, that’s what Hawaii is famous for. If you are a wanderer who is always ready to hop on a new adventure or a tourist who gets excited after hearing about a new destination then you must know, that exotic beaches, cultural diversity, cocktails, flip flops, picturesque destinations, all translate into one word, HAWAII. But here’s an important reminder, just like Hawaiian people are distinctive, Hawaiian alphabets are different too. Imagine going there and being unable to say thank you to the waiter who hands you the soft towel when you come out of the hotel pool, sounds pretty embarrassing right?

Lucky for you, we have got you covered. It will be a nice thing for you to go through some basic Hawaiian which Hawaiin speakers frequently use. Once you reach there, you’ll realize that they use a unique form of the Hawaiian language. The good news is, we know those Hawaiian phrases too and we have curated a special list of Hawaiian phrases, Native Hawaiian, the frequently used Hawaiian words, and of course, just so you don’t feel left out, also the slang.

Greetings And Gratitude

If you really want to live the Aloha Spirit, you should know the deeper meaning of Aloha, Como Mai or Komo Mai, and Mah Hah Loh, because they are largely used to greet people and express gratitude.

The word Aloha literally translates into life force but is frequently used for welcoming guests, showing affection, kindness, and even for biding farewell or saying goodbye. Mahalo means thank you and if you are more than thankful you can say Mahalo Nui to bring that extra graciousness into your expression. And if a local resident invites you over to your home, feel free to step in their home as soon as they say, Como Mai, because that’s basically how they welcome you to their home.

Hawaiian Slang You Should Definitely Know About

Just like we enjoy our weekends, Pau Hana is a term used for Happy hour in the Hawaiian Islands. Although it literally translates to finished work, bars, restaurants, and rest houses offer special deals for Pau Hana, so being a tourist, don’t forget to look for those deals.

Mele Kalikimaka is the way of saying Merry Christmas in the Hawaiian language, so if you are going to celebrate your Christmas in Hawaii, then knowing this one will come in handy. Ma Uka or Ma kai are also some terms you’ll hear a lot. It is when they’ll tell you about your next visit to the uplands.

Another term of endearment that you can use for your Hawaiian guide or Hawaiian friends when you are leaving your hotel, is Hui Hou, this means until we meet again. Don’t forget to use it to impress your new friends there.

Words To Know If You Get Invited To A Beach Party

Parties are an essential element of the Hawaiian culture. And if you are there for a vacation, brace yourself for not just one but many. One thing that everyone will be cheering during their drinking games will be Okole maluna which means bottoms up.

Another important one you need to learn is Kala Mai because it means I am sorry. And we are certain that there are going to be many occasions where you’ll need this, like stepping on someone’s feet while doing your electric moves or spilling drinks on someone’s hep t-shirt. So if that or something else happens, put a smile on your face and say, Kala Mai.

Oh, and yes, Hana Hou is something you’ll hear again and again. Because this is what it means, doing it again. Liked snorkeling, simply say, “we enjoyed snorkeling, Hana Hou Wednesday”.

Common Hawaiian Words And Their Meanings

Since we don’t want you to get embarrassed, along with the Hawaiian Slang, we have some more common Hawaiian words and their meaning, as these are the ones you’ll hear the most and would certainly have to use as well.

What Is Hawaiian Pidgin Or Pidgin English?

Hawaiian Pidgin is another name for Hawaiian slang. A creole language, which is a combo of two or more individual languages, Pidgin English is also known as Patois.

Although we have suggested for you to go through the Hawaiian culture and language before visiting the islands, we also want to tell you an interesting fact. The official language of Hawaii is Hawaiian but most people speak English with an amalgamation of the Hawaiian slang.

Now that you are all set, just remember one thing, if you need to translate Hawaiian to English or English to Hawaiian for a specific purpose and you need an accurate translation, always look out for a professional translator. We can give you an idea of the way how languages work over there but you’ll need to contact a professional agency for documents and advertisement translations.