Do you plan on traveling to Hawaii for this summer or a family trip?
Thanks to its famous beaches and beautiful island culture, Hawaii is one of the top places to visit. The Hawaii Tourism Authority recorded over 10 million tourists came to visit the Islands in 2019.
If you plan to visit the beautiful archipelago soon, you need to prepare for the trip. A great way to do it is to learn the top Hawaiian phrases youโll hear and likely use when you get there. Below, we have a list of these typical phrases you must know before you make your trip.
1. Aloha
Letโs begin with something simple and already known to almost everyone.ย The word โAlohaโ is a common Hawaiian term that translates as โHelloโ to many people who arenโt from Hawaii. However, Aloha means more than hello, especially when you say it in Hawaii.
The literal meaning of Aloha is โloveโ. The phrase acknowledges the โhaโ or the โbreath of lifeโ in each person. Itโs a term that wishes a positive life for the other person.
You may also hear the word said with other terms. โGood morningโ is the English translation of โAloha kakahiakaโ while โAloha auinalaโ is the Hawaiian phrase for โGood dayโ or โGood afternoonโ. If you want to bid someone a good evening, say โAloha ahiahiโ.
2. Mahalo & Mahalo Nui Loa
Yet another common phrase in Hawaii is โMahaloโ. Youโll hear it after you pay your bill at a restaurant or when you give a tip for the housekeeper. Youโll see the phrase stuck onto some garbage bins.
If you havenโt guessed it yet, Mahalo means โThank youโ.
Now, you might be wondering why youโd see the word on garbage bins. Note that the city of Oahu alone generates over 2.2 million tons of waste. This waste comes from residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
Since tourism is the stateโs top source of income, it places great care on the environment. Placing the word mahalo on trash bins is how the locals thank visitorโs effort to help the environment. Itโs their way to say โmahalo for disposing of trash rightโ.
At other times, youโll hear people say โMahalo nui loaโ. The extended-phrase means โThank you very muchโ. Use it if you want to be extra polite or to show deep gratitude.
3. Aโ Ole Palikir
How do you respond to someone if they thank you in Hawaiian?
Weโre wired to say phrases like โYouโre welcomeโ when someone thanks us for something we did. In Hawaii, you can respond to mahalo in plain English. If you want to engage with locals, use the phrase โAโ ole palikir.โ
Note that the correct way to say it is โah-oh-leh pee-lee-kee-yah.โ This phrase is a good response when someone thanks you.
Learning the language of the culture shows your interest in it. It doesnโt matter that you mispronounced the phrase or stuttered halfway through.
The effort to try is enough for locals to appreciate your attempts.
4. E Komo Mai
If youโre visiting a home or a business, youโll hear people welcome you in with the words โE komo maiโ. You can even see it on signs above the entrances of many businesses. In English, the Hawaiian phrase โE komo maiโ means โCome inโ or โWelcomeโ.
You can also say these words when you welcome a guest into your transient home. To avoid embarrassments, pronounce it like โeh koh-moh ma-eeโ. Say this phrase instead of the typical โCome on inโ to give your guest a pleasant surprise.
5. No Ka โOi
When you visit the islands, a popular saying youโll hear in Hawaii is โMaui no ka โoiโ. A basic English translation of this phrase is โMaui is definitely the bestโ. According to some, โNo ka โoiโ better translates to โNo better thanโ.
In any case, when you want to express that something is the best youโve experienced, say this. Use it to describe a dessert, a person, or a place. Donโt forget to say the word youโre describing before the phrase โNo ka โoiโ.
6. Aloha Wau Ia โOe
One way to learn Hawaiian the easy is to speak through love. This phrase is something the romantics are sure to enjoy learning about. When youโre on a beach, turn to your partner and say, โAloha wau ia โoeโ.
It means I love you. If you remember, the word โalohaโ stands for love. In this case, youโre directing and expressing that love to someone through the phrase. Say it as you sit under a cabana or as you watch the sunset with your loved one.
7. Howzit
Learning the local language is a great way to prepare before your trip. For this phrase, weโre turning the tables. Because tourists often use it, โHowzitโ became the Hawaiian adaptation of the phrase โHow are you?โ
Itโs an informal greeting you may hear said when friends meet. Often, youโll also hear the term โBraddahโ (brother) thrown in with the greeting. This phrase is like the South African โhowzitโ, which means the same thing.
8. A Hui Hou
If you see a Hawaiian concert, you may hear this phrase instead of โEncoreโ. Youโll also hear these words exchanged when friends part ways. Itโs one of the top Hawaiian phrases you should know about if you want to fit in and learn the culture better.
The meaning thatโs closest to this phrase is โSee you soonโ or โUntil we meet againโ. Others add an โakuโ at the end of the sentence. This means that they plan to meet again soon.
The best and correct way to say this phrase is โah hoo-wee ho-ooโ.
9. Ono Grinds or Ono Grindz
When you visit Hawaii, youโre sure to get a taste of their delicious local meals. When you find exceptional food, say โOno grindsโ to show your appreciation. Pronounce ono as as โoh-noโ.
10. E Hele Kaua I Ke Kahakai
Are you ready to go to the beach? Get your friends to dive into the water with you the way locals do. Say โE hele kaua i ke kahakaiโ to invite them to the beach.
We know itโs a mouthful, but itโs a great way to impress your new Hawaiian friends.
11. A โO Ia
Speaking of dancing, the hula is a popular activity during events like the Luโau. If local performers or you do the hula, youโll hear people cheer you on. The phrase theyโll use is โA โo ia!โ
Other Top Hawaiian Phrases to Know
The following are less like Hawaiian phrases and more like words. However, locals often use and mix them with English words. Thus, weโre considering them worthy of this list.
Luโau
When you befriend a local, they may invite you to see the Luโau. This is the dance or party youโd imagine when you say Hawaii. Itโs an important Hawaiian celebration that often involves traditional singing, hula or dancing, and music.
Ohanaย
If youโve seen the animated movie Lilo & Stitch before, you already know what ohana means. In reality, ohana means family in an extended and deeper sense. It means not only blood-related family but also adopted family.
Itโs an interesting take on the binds that keep people tied together. It highlights their bonds and reminds them of their importance in the family unit. In the workplace, some people may refer to a group of close and respected colleagues as their ohana.
Shakaย
If youโve seen or met surfers, youโll notice they often do a particular hand gesture. This gesture is a fist but with the pinky and thumb stretched and extended to form something like a โYโ. Hawaiians refer to this gesture as the shaka.
It symbolizes the Aloha spirit within people. It represents solidarity, understanding, or the bonds of friendship. Now, you know what itโs called and that it doesnโt only mean โhang looseโ.
Haole
If you go to Hawaii, locals may call you a โHaoleโ. Haole is a person who is not native to Hawaii. Often, itโs what they will call someone who is white.
Listen well to a personโs tone when they refer to you as such. Some may use it as a derogatory term, but this isnโt always true. Also, read the situation well before you decide the meaning of the term referring to you.
Mauka and Makai
Go to the direction of the mauka. The restaurant youโre looking for is near the makai. These may be phrases told to you by locals when you ask them for directions.
The Hawaiian word โmaukaโ means โmountainโ while ocean is the translation of the word โmakaiโ. Now, when you get there and ask for directions, you wonโt get too confused.
Uncle and Auntie
Often, kids are great truth-tellers no matter what part of the world they live in. However, you mustnโt feel any offense when children call you an Uncle or an Auntie. To those who are sensitive about their age, take note.
Itโs a term of endearment used for elders. When a child calls you Uncle or Auntie, it means they respect you.
Get the Best Hawaiian Experience
One of the most helpful Hawaii visit tips is to know typical expressions. You donโt need to be the person speaking these phrases to learn them. Itโs part of the two-way feature of communication and language.
Thatโs it for our list of the top Hawaiian phrases. We hope you learned and apply these words when you visit Hawaii later.
If you want more content on getting great experiences, check out our other guides.
