Lost in Translation

What's the state fish of Hawaii?

Unbeknownst to some, Hawaii has its own language (Hawaiian) and dialect (pidgin). While everybody knows what aloha and mahalo mean, here are some more advanced words and phrases that might have people thinking you're a kama'aina ;)

Common Hawaiian words & phrases

Aloha - The most common expression in the islands. It can mean hello and goodbye, welcome or farewell. It can also mean romantic affection or best wishes.
Aloha Ahiahi - Good evening.
Aloha au ia oe - I love you.
Aloha Kakahiaka - Good morning.
Aloha nui loa - Much love; fondest regards.

Hale - House or building; often combined with other words to name a specific place such as Haleakala (House of the Sun).
Hana Hou – Encore, one more time, do it again.
Hauoli la hanau - Happy Birthday.
Hauoli Makahiki hau - Happy New Year.
Honu - The Hawaiian word for Sea Turtle.
How’s it going? Huhu - Mad. Hula - A native Hawaiian dance where the rhythm of the islands is captured in swaying hips and stories are told by lyrically moving the hands.
Humu Humu Nuku Nuku Apua'a - Hawaii's official State Fish. Also known as a Rectangular Trigger.

Kahuna - This means priest, sorcerer, doctor, or other highly skilled person.
Kama’aina - A long time island resident or local.
Kane - Man. When written on a door, it means "Men’s Room".
Kapu - Forbidden; taboo; poison; keep out; or do not touch.
Keiki - Child or children; kids.
Kokua - Help or assistance, as in "Your Kokua is needed to keep these islands free of litter. Mahalo!"
Kolohe - Rascal; Trouble maker; Punk.
Komo mai - Please come in; enter; welcome.

Mahalo - Thanks or Thank You! "Mahalo Nui Loa" means "Thank you very much!".
Makai - Toward the sea or seaside. Often used when giving directions.
Malihini - A newcomer, tenderfoot or recent arrival.
Mano - Shark.
Mauka - Towards the mountains, also used when giving directions as in "Mauka-side of the highway."
Mauna - Mountain, often combined with other words to be more descriptive, like in "Mauna Kea" (White Mountain).
Mele Kalikimaka - Merry Christmas.
Moana - The ocean or the sea.
Moke - Extremely large, local, tough guy.
Moi Moi - Sleep.

Wahine - A young woman or girl; female; wife. Written on a door it means "Ladies Room".

Common pidgin words & phrases

Akamai - Someone who is very smart.
Aznuts - Ridiculous or out of your mind.

Braddah or Brah - Brother, pal.
Break - Waves; wave action.
Brok' Da Mout - Tastes really delicous; yummy grinds!
Bumbye - When we get around to it; after a little while.
Bussum Out - I want some, share with me.

Choke - Meaning "a lot of something"; many; a large amount.
Choke Cars - Heavy traffic.

Da’ Kine - Versatile word used to replace words that can't be remembered or are unknown while you are speaking
Dirty Lick'ns - A spanking.

Eriding - Everything; all of it.
Eh! - You know!
'Ey! - Attention getter, (yell).

Geev' um - Give it to them; go for it; give it hell. If a surfer is up on one Da' Kine wave, the crowd watching may yell "Geev um, Brah!".
Grind - To eat like there's no tomorrow.

Haad Rub - Having a hard time; Bad time; feeling uncomfortable.

Hana Hou – Encore, one more time, do it again.
Haole - A word that used to mean foreigner, but now means a white person or Caucasian.
Hawaiian Time - Late.
Ho Brah - Prelude to describing something intense or amazing.
Howzit? - What’s happening? How’s it going?
Huli Huli - To flip over and over; rotiserrie, also barbecue, like in Huli Huli chicken.

Lanai - Porch or veranda; the patio.
Leeward - The west side of the island.
Lei - A traditional garland of flowers or vines.
Like Beef? - You want to fight?
Lolo - Dumb, slow, crazy, does not make sense.
Lolo Buggah - A stupid or crazy guy.
Lua - Bathroom.
Luau - A Hawaiian feast featuring traditional island foods.

Ohana - A family.
Okole - Your butt or rear end.
Okole maluna! - Bottoms up! Cheers!
Ono - Delicious; delightful or the best; groovy. Also a white, flaky ocean fish found on many seafood menus.
Onoliscious - Overly delicious!

Pali - Cliff.
Pau - Finished or done.
Pakalolo - Crazy smoke; marijuana; Maui-wowie.
Poi - A glutinous paste made from pounding taro root. Purplish in color and kind of sour tasting, it is a Hawaiian staple.
Poke – An appetizer made with sashimi.
Puka - A hole of any size.
Pu pu - Any appetizer, snack or Hors D’oeuvres.

Shaka - Great or excellent; "Cool!"; brilliant; having fun; good job. A hand signal originally made popular by surfers where you stick out the thumb and pinky and fold the other three fingers in; "Hang Loose!".
Slippas - This is also known as a pair of "flip-flops" or sandals.
Stinkface - Frowning at someone, using facial expression to show displeasure. Also "Stinkeye".

Tako - Octopus. Very popular ingredient in Poke.
Talk Stink - Speaking bad about someone.
Talk story -Conversation at length.
Try Move - (Please) move out of the way.

Ukulele - The small, four or eight stringed folk instrument with the unique Hawaiian sound.

Wat Doing - What the "bleep" do you think you're doing??
We Go - Let's get out of here; split.
Wiki - Quick or fast; in a hurry. Often seen as "Wiki wiki" which means very fast!
Windward - The east side of the island.