Hawaiian Alphabet:

 

5 vowels: a, e, i, o, u

7 consonants: h, k, l, m, n, p and w

 

Pronunciation Guide:

 

Stressed vowels
a - ah, as in jar: aloha
e - a, as in day: nene
i - ee, as in see: honi
o - oh, as in go: mahalo
u - oo, as in moon: kapu

 Unstressed vowels
a - a, as in around: ali`i
e - eh, as in pet: kane

 

Months:

 

January - ‘Iaunuali (ee-ya-oo new-ahlee)
February - Pepeluali (pay-pay loo-ahlee)
March - Malaki (ma-la-key)
April - ‘Apelila (ah-pe-lee-la)
May - Mei (may-ee)
June - Iune (ee-oo-ney)
July - Iulai (ee-oo-la-ee)
August - ‘Aukake (ah-oo-ka-key)
September - Kepakemapa (key-pa-key-ma-pa)
October - 'Okakopa (oh-ka-ko-pa)
November - Nowemapa (No-vay-ma-pa)
December - Kekemapa (key-key-ma-pa)

 

Days:

 

Sunday - Lapule (lay-poo-lay)
Monday - Po’akahi (poh ah-kah-hee)
Tuesday - Po’alua (poh ah-loo-ah)
Wednesday - Po’akolu (poh ah-ko-loo)
Thursday - Po’aha (poh ah-ha)
Friday - Po’alima (poh ah-lee-mah)
Saturday - Po ‘aono (poh ah-o-no)

 

Holidays:

 

Happy Thanksgiving - Hau’oli La Ho’omakika’i (pronounced how-oh-lay la ho-o-ma-key-kah-ee)
Happy Holidays - Hau’oli Lanui (pronounced how-oh-lay la-new-ee)
Merry Christmas - Mele Kalikimaka (pronounced may-lay ka-lee-key-ma-ka)
Happy Hanukkah - Hau’oli Hanukaha (pronounced how-oh-lay ha-new-ka-ha)
Happy Kwanzaa - Hau’oli Kawanaka (pronounced how-oh-lay ka-wa-na-ka)
Happy New Year - Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (pronounced how-oh-lay ma-ka-hee-key ho)
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou
Happy Hanukkah and New Year - Hau'oli Hanukaha me ka Makahiki Hou
Happy Birthday - Hau`oli la Hanau (pronounced how-oh-lay la ha-now)
Happy Anniversary - Hau`oli la Ho'omana'o (pronounced how-oh-lay la ho-o-ma-na-o)
 

Hawaiian Phrases:

 

A hui hou kakou - Until we meet again
Aloha kakahiaka - Good morning
Aloha `auinala - Good afternooon
Aloha ahiahi - Good evening
Aloha `oe - Farewell to you
A`ole pilikia - No problem
Hana Hou! - One more time!
Kipa hou mai - Come visit again

Mahalo - Thank you
Mahalo nui loa - Thank you very much
Me ka `oia`i`o - With sincerity
Mau Loa - Forever
Nau wale no - Just for you
`O wai kou inoa? - What is your name?
Pomaika`i - Good Luck

 

Love, affection:

 

'Aha'aina Male - wedding feast
Aloha Au Ia 'Oe - I love you.
Aloha Aku No, Aloha Mai No - I give my love to you, you give your love to me.
Aloha Kaua - May there be love between us. (said to one person)
Aloha Kakou - May there be love between us. (said to more than one person)
Aloha No Au Ia 'Oe - I Truly Love You.

Aloha Nui Loa - All my love
Aloha Pumehana - warm love, affection
E Hoomau Maua Kealoha - May our love last forever.
E Kipa Mai - Come to me.
E Ku'u Aloha - my Love
Eia Au, Eia 'Oe - Here I am, here you are.
Ho'i Hou Ke Aloha - Let us fall in love all over again.
Hokeo - to secretly love
Ia Iho Ke Aloha - To my love.
Ka Honi Mai Me Ke Aloha - And with love is a kiss.
Ke Aloha - beloved
Kipona Aloha - deep love

Ko Aloha Makamae E Ipo - Sweetheart, you are so precious.
Ko`u Aloha - my Love
Ku`u Lei - my beloved
Ma'ane'i No Ke Aloha - For love is here and now.
Mahalo E Ke Akua No Keia La - Thanks be to God for this day.
Male 'ana - wedding
Male Ana E Pili Mai Aloha Kaua - We two will cling to love in marriage.
Mau Loa - forever
Mea Aloha - loved one
Me Ke Aloha - with love
Me Ke Aloha Pumehana - with the warmth of my love
Nau ko`u aloha - My love is yours.
Na'u `oe - You're mine.
No Kau a Kau - For Eternity.
No Keia La, No Keia Po, A Mau Loa - From this day, from this night, forever more
Nou No Ka `I`ini - I desire you.
'O Ku'u Aloha No 'Oe - You are indeed my love.
Pa'ipunahele - an expression of love for a favorite
Pilialoha - To be in a bond of love

 

People:

 

alaka’I - leader
ali`i - Hawaiian royalty
`anakala - uncle
`anake - aunt
haumana - student
hoahanau - cousin
hoa kula - classmate
hoaloha - beloved friend
hoapili - close friend
kahu lio - groom
kahuna - priest
kahuna pule - pastor
kaikamahine - daughter
kaikua'ana - older brother of a male
kaikaina - younger brother or sister of the same sex
kaiko'eke - brother-in-law
kaikua'ana - older sister of a female
kaikunane - older brother of a male
kaikuahine - sister of a male
kahuna - priest, skilled person, expert in a field
kamali`i - children
kanaka - human
kane - man
kane male - married man

kupunakane - grandfather, grandpa, granpa, grampy, gramps, papa, pops
kupunawahine - grandmother, grandma, granma, granny, grammy, grams, nana
keiki - child, children, kid, kids, offspring
keikikane - son
koa - soldier
kumu - teacher
kupuna - grandparent
ku`uipo - sweetheart
lawai`- a fisherman
makamaka - intimate friend
makua - parent
makuahine - mother, mom, mama, mommy
makuakane - father, dad, pa, daddy
mo`opuna - grandchild
ohana - family
paniolo - cowboy
wahine - woman
wahine makua - sister in law
wahine male - married woman
wahine male hou - bride

 

Other Words:

 

`a`ala - smell good
ae - yes

ahe - breeze
ahi - fire
ahi`ahi - evening
`aina - land, earth
'Aina Kakahiaka - breakfast
alanui - street
`aka`aka - laugh

akahele - be careful of
akamai - smart, intelligent
aloha - a greeting used to say hello or goodbye. Aloha can also mean love.
Anuanu - cold
anuenue - rainbow
a'ole - no
`auinala - afternoon
awakea - noontime
 

hahai - follow
hakaka - fight
hala kahiki - pineapple
halau - hula troupe

hale - house, building
hana - work, bay
hanau - give birth
haole - foreigner, Caucasian
hapa - mix
hapai - pregnant
hapalua - half
hau`oli - happy
heiau - ancient Hawaiian religious temple
hohono - smell bad
ho`i mai - come back
hoku - star
holoholo - to walk or travel for fun

Honi - kiss
honu - turtle
ho`okipa - hospitality
ho'okomo - enter, come in
ho`oku`i - to join together
ho`olauna - introduce
ho`olohe - listen
ho`omo`- a cook
ho`opono - faithful
hu hu - angry, agitated
hui - group organization
hu'i hu'I - cool
hula - Hawaiian form of communication using dance
huli - turn
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a ‘ Picasso triggerfish (State Fish)

 

ihu - nose
ikaika - strong
`ilio - dog

Inu - drink
imu - underground pit oven used in luau

 

ka'a - automobile
kahakai - beach
kahiko - traditional, old, ancient
Kohala - humpback whale
kai - ocean, ocean water
kala - dollar, money
kama`aina - native-Hawaiian or long-time resident
kama'a 'ole - barefoot
kapa moe - blanket
kapu - forbidden, sacred
kaukau - food
kini - aluminum can
koa - strong, soldier, native acacia tree
kui - to string as a lei
kokoke - close, near, almost
kokua - help, cooperation
kono - invite

 

lama pa'ipa'i - cocktail
lanai - porch, veranda
lanakila - to have victory
lani - heavenly
laulima - cooperate
lei - garland of flowers, leaves, nuts, or shells

lewa - air
lima - arm (body part)
limu - seaweed
lole 'au'au - bathing suit
lolo - crazy
lua - bathroom, toilet
lu`au - feast
luakini - temple for human sacrifice

 

mahalo - thank you
mahimahi - dolfin fish
mahina - moon
maika`i - good
makaainana - commoner
makahiki - Ancient Hawaiian celebration held annually with sports and religious festivities
maka`ika`i - tour, sight see
makai - towards the ocean
makana - gift
malihini - newcomer, visitor
mana - spiritual power
mana`o - think
mauka - inland, towards the mountains

mauna - mountain
maunu - bait
mele - song, sing
menehune - mythical elf-like people who are rumored to have inhabited the Hawaiian islands

before Polynesians
moe'uhane - dream
moku - island
mokulele - airplane
moana - ocean, sea
mo`o - lizard, reptile water spirit
mu’umu’u - long and loose fitting dress

 

na`au - pretty
nai'a - dolphin
nani - beautiful, enjoyable
napo'o 'ana o ka la - sunset
nene - endangered Hawaii native goose
niu - coconut
nohea - handsome, loveliness

 

Ola - healthy, alive
`olu`olu - nice, pleasant
`oma`ima`i - not feeling well
`ono - delicious
`opala - trash

 

pa`akiki - stubborn
palama - palm tree
pa'i palaoa - cake
pali - cliff
pau - done, completed
poi - pounded taro root

pololi - hungry
pomaika'i - good fortune/good luck
pu`iwa - surprise
puka - hole
pulehu - cook over hot coals
pulelehua - butterfly
punahele - favorite
pupu - appetizer, snack
pupule - crazy
pu`u - hill, cinder cone

 

ua - rain
ue - cry
u`i - youthful-looking, beautiful
uku - pay
ukulele - stringed instrument, small guitar

 

wa`a - canoe
wai - water (not salt water)
wikiwiki - quickly, fast
wiwi - skinny

 

HAWAIIAN SPEAK