A Few Hawaiian Words

The moment you set foot in Hawaii you’re a malihini, a newcomer. Some say you become a kamaaina, or child of the land, once you can, without pausing, pronounce "Kalanianaole Highway." Others claim only people born here can truly claim to be kamaainas.
Hawaiians are people with Hawaiian blood. The rest of us are simple Hawaii residents, or "Islanders"
A necessary step toward living here is learning the following words, which everyone uses. They’re easy to say if you remember all words are pronounced just as they are spelled.

• AKAMAI – Smart, clever.

• ALA – Road, path. Used in Street names such as Ala Moana

• ALOHA – Hello, goodbye, love, compassion

• AUWE – Oh!, Alas

• HALE – House, building

• HAMAKUA – Place name for a direction

• HAOLE – Caucasian person, formerly, any foreigner.

• HULA – Classic dance form of Hawaii

• KAI – Sea

• KANE – Man

• KAPU – Taboo, forbidden, keep out

• KAUKAU – Food

• KEIKI – Child

• KOKUA – Help

• LANAI – Porch, balcony, veranda

• LEI – Strand of flowers, leaves, shells, nuts

• LUA – Restroom

• LUAU – Hawaiian feast

• MAHALO – Thank you

• MAHIMAHI –Dolphin family fish

• MAKAI – Toward the sea

• MALIHINI – Stranger, newcomer, guest

• MAUKA–Towards the mountains

• MUUMUU –A long, loose-fitting dress

• OHANA – Family. A close group

• ONO – Delicious. Also an Island Fish

• PALI – Cliff or cliffs

• PAU – Done, finished

• POI – Hawaiian staff of life, made from taro root

• PUKA – Hole or opening

• PUNA – Place name used as a direction

• PUPU – Hors d’oeuvre

• WAHINE – Woman