Everything about Hawaii is unique: from the scenery and popular food to the Hawaiian culture and language. Many Hawaiian words and phrases are still used today, and when you mix that with Hawaiian Pidgin — a creole English-based creole dialect — you’re left with a language unique to the islands. While we may understand their meanings, here are 15 words and phrases Hawaii locals don’t have in their vocabulary.
- Hello + Goodbye.
Kim/Flickr It’s not hello or goodbye, it’s “Aloha.” We use it in everyday speech, as well as when describing Hawaii, or even writing professional emails.
- Children.
Lance Shields/Flickr It is more common to use the Hawaiian word for children, “keiki.”
- Thank You.
Michael J/Flickr While we obviously know what this means, we’re more likely to use “Mahalo.”
- What’s up, man?
Lonnie Dunkin III/Flickr You mean, “Howzit, Braddah?”
- Traditional directions are confusing.
Urbanfeel/Flickr When you’re in Hawaii, it is “mauka,” or towards the mountain, and “makai,” meaning towards the sea.
- Flip-flops.
Rosa Say/Flickr What are these flip-flops you speak of? In Hawaii, they are slippers, or better yet, slippahs.
- Passion Fruit.
Matt Kowalczyk/Flickr Passion Fruit is called lilikoi here in Hawaii, and it’s one of our favorite fruits.
- Pronouncing Hawaii incorrectly.
Ken Lund/Flickr For the last time, it’s “Ha-vah-ee,” not “Ha-wah-ee.” Please get it right.
- Hurry.
Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/Flickr Wait, what? What does that even mean? Why would you rush something when you can just live a little slower?
- Delicious food.
Calamity_Sal/Flickr When talking about amazing food, people in Hawaii will say “ono grinds” instead.
- Green sea turtle.
Steve Jurvetson/Flickr Oh, you mean honu, right?
- Appetizers.
Wyteone/Flickr Oh, pupus? Yeah, I’d love to go out for some pupus.
- Patio.
Wikipedia It’s not a balcony or patio, it’s a lanai.
- Winter.
Scott Schiller/Flickr Wait, what is this winter you speak of? You mean, the time of year when we get to go whale watching, and the temperature might drop ten degrees, to mid-70s instead of mid-80s?
- Merry Christmas!
Dave Dugdale/Flickr During the holiday season, you will most often hear us utter the phrase, Mele Kalikimaka, which means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian.
Are there any other words and phrases Hawaii locals don’t use in everyday conversation? Sound off in the comments, then click here to discover 12 Silly Sayings That Will Only Make Sense If You’re From Hawaii. And if you want to learn more about the Hawaiian language, click here.
Kim/Flickr
It’s not hello or goodbye, it’s “Aloha.” We use it in everyday speech, as well as when describing Hawaii, or even writing professional emails.
Lance Shields/Flickr
It is more common to use the Hawaiian word for children, “keiki.”
Michael J/Flickr
While we obviously know what this means, we’re more likely to use “Mahalo.”
Lonnie Dunkin III/Flickr
You mean, “Howzit, Braddah?”
Urbanfeel/Flickr
When you’re in Hawaii, it is “mauka,” or towards the mountain, and “makai,” meaning towards the sea.
Rosa Say/Flickr
What are these flip-flops you speak of? In Hawaii, they are slippers, or better yet, slippahs.
Matt Kowalczyk/Flickr
Passion Fruit is called lilikoi here in Hawaii, and it’s one of our favorite fruits.
Ken Lund/Flickr
For the last time, it’s “Ha-vah-ee,” not “Ha-wah-ee.” Please get it right.
Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/Flickr
Wait, what? What does that even mean? Why would you rush something when you can just live a little slower?
Calamity_Sal/Flickr
When talking about amazing food, people in Hawaii will say “ono grinds” instead.
Steve Jurvetson/Flickr
Oh, you mean honu, right?
Wyteone/Flickr
Oh, pupus? Yeah, I’d love to go out for some pupus.
Wikipedia
It’s not a balcony or patio, it’s a lanai.
Scott Schiller/Flickr
Wait, what is this winter you speak of? You mean, the time of year when we get to go whale watching, and the temperature might drop ten degrees, to mid-70s instead of mid-80s?
Dave Dugdale/Flickr
During the holiday season, you will most often hear us utter the phrase, Mele Kalikimaka, which means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian.
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Address: Hawaii, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Hawaiian Language August 31, 2020 Megan Shute What does the Hawaiian alphabet look like? The Hawaiian alphabet consists of just 13 letters, half of the English alphabet, including five vowels — a, e, i, o, and u — and eight consonants — h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the glottal stop, called an ‘okina. All Hawaiian words end in a vowel and consonants are always followed by a vowel. What should I know about the Hawaiian language? The Hawaiian language is one of the oldest living languages in the world and has had a tumultuous history. After Hawaii became a territory of the United States in 1898, the language was banned from schools and the government, though people were still allowed to speak Hawaiian and there were, in fact, 14 separate newspapers printed in Hawaiian during this time. Though Hawaii is the only American state with two official languages — Hawaiian and English — the language is classified as critically endangered by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). From the 1830s to the 1950s, the number of native Hawaiian speakers gradually decreased. Since the 1950s, however, there has been a gradual increase in attention to and promotion of the language and we hope that one day the language is no longer considered endangered. What is Pidgin? Today, many Hawaiian locals prefer to speak an English-Hawaiian hybrid language known as a Pidgin dialect when it comes to daily life. Not unlike slang used in American English, linguists agree that Hawaiian Pidgin features enough distinctions from its parent languages to be considered a unique form of speaking all its own.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Hawaiian Language
August 31, 2020
Megan Shute
What does the Hawaiian alphabet look like? The Hawaiian alphabet consists of just 13 letters, half of the English alphabet, including five vowels — a, e, i, o, and u — and eight consonants — h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the glottal stop, called an ‘okina. All Hawaiian words end in a vowel and consonants are always followed by a vowel. What should I know about the Hawaiian language? The Hawaiian language is one of the oldest living languages in the world and has had a tumultuous history. After Hawaii became a territory of the United States in 1898, the language was banned from schools and the government, though people were still allowed to speak Hawaiian and there were, in fact, 14 separate newspapers printed in Hawaiian during this time. Though Hawaii is the only American state with two official languages — Hawaiian and English — the language is classified as critically endangered by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). From the 1830s to the 1950s, the number of native Hawaiian speakers gradually decreased. Since the 1950s, however, there has been a gradual increase in attention to and promotion of the language and we hope that one day the language is no longer considered endangered. What is Pidgin? Today, many Hawaiian locals prefer to speak an English-Hawaiian hybrid language known as a Pidgin dialect when it comes to daily life. Not unlike slang used in American English, linguists agree that Hawaiian Pidgin features enough distinctions from its parent languages to be considered a unique form of speaking all its own.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Hawaiian alphabet consists of just 13 letters, half of the English alphabet, including five vowels — a, e, i, o, and u — and eight consonants — h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the glottal stop, called an ‘okina. All Hawaiian words end in a vowel and consonants are always followed by a vowel.
What should I know about the Hawaiian language?
The Hawaiian language is one of the oldest living languages in the world and has had a tumultuous history. After Hawaii became a territory of the United States in 1898, the language was banned from schools and the government, though people were still allowed to speak Hawaiian and there were, in fact, 14 separate newspapers printed in Hawaiian during this time. Though Hawaii is the only American state with two official languages — Hawaiian and English — the language is classified as critically endangered by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). From the 1830s to the 1950s, the number of native Hawaiian speakers gradually decreased. Since the 1950s, however, there has been a gradual increase in attention to and promotion of the language and we hope that one day the language is no longer considered endangered.
What is Pidgin?
Today, many Hawaiian locals prefer to speak an English-Hawaiian hybrid language known as a Pidgin dialect when it comes to daily life. Not unlike slang used in American English, linguists agree that Hawaiian Pidgin features enough distinctions from its parent languages to be considered a unique form of speaking all its own.
