Hawaii Phrasebook

Hawaiian	Pronunciation	English
Hawaiian	Pronunciation	English
aina	eye-nah	land, earth
alii	ah-lee-ee	Hawaiian chiefs, royalty
aloha	ah-low-ha	love, hello, goodbye
aole	ah-oh-lay	no, not, never
hale	hah-lay	house, hut
haole	how-lay	Caucasian, stranger
hauoli	how-oh-lee	happiness
heiau	hey-ee-au	temple
hui	hoo-ee	club, association, group
hula	hoo-lah	Hawaiian dance
imu	ee-moo	underground oven
inu	in-new	drink
kahakai	ka-hak-ay	beach
kahuna	ka-hoo-na	priest
kaikamahine	kay-kah-ma-hee-nay	daughter
kala	kah-la	money
kalua	kah-loo-ah	baked shredded meat
kamalii	kah-mali-ee-ee	children
kane	kah-nay	man, masculine
kapu	kah-poo	taboo, forbidden
kaukau	kow-kow	food
keiki	kay-kee	child
keikikane	kay-kee-kah-nay	son
kokua	ko-koo-ah	help, aid, relief
kumu	koo-moo	teacher, tutor
kupuna	koo-poo-nah	grandparent, ancestor
lanai	lah-nye	porch
lei	lay	necklace of flowers
lomilomi	low-me low-me	massage
lua	loo-ah	bathroom
luau	loo-ow	Hawaiian feast
mahalo	mah-hah-low	thank you
mahina	ma-hee-nah	moon
maikai	mah-ee-kah-ee	good, fine
makaainana	mah-kah-ay-nah-nah	common people
makai	mah-kye	toward the ocean
makamaka	mah-kah mah-kah	close friend
makua	mah-koo-ah	parent, parent generation
malama	mah-lah-mah	to take care of, attend to
mauka	mah-ow-kah	toward the mountains, inland
mauna	mow-nah	mountain
mele	meh-leh	song, chant, or poem
Menehune	meh-neh-hoo-neh	legendary race of little people
muumuu	moo-moo	loose gown, dress
nalu	nah-loo	wave, to surf
nani	nah-nee	beautiful
nui	noo-ee	big
ohana	oh-hah-nah	family
olelo	oh-lay-low	language, word, quotation
ono	oh-no	delicious
pali	pah-lee	cliff
paniolo	pah-nee-oh-low	Hawaiian cowboy
pau	pow	finished
pule	poo-leh	prayer, incantation
pupu	poo-poo	hors d’oeuvre
pupule	poo-poo-lay	crazy
wahine	wah-hee-nay	woman, girl, female
wai	why	freshwater, liquid, liquor
wikiwiki	wee-kee-wee-kee	very fast, speedy
aloha aina	ah-low-hah eye-nah	love of the land
aloha ahiahi	ah-low-hah ah-hee-ah-hee	good evening
aloha kakahiaka	ah-low-hah kah-kah-hee-ah-kah	good morning
aloha kakou	ah-low-hah kah-koo	aloha to all, hello everyone
aloha au ia oe	ah-low-hah ow ee-ah oh-ay	I love you
aole pilikia	ah-o-lay pee-lee-kee-ah	no problem, no trouble
hauoli la hanau	how-oh-lay la ha-now	happy birthday
kamaaina	kah-mah-ay-nah	“child of the soil,” native-born or long-time resident
kanaka maoli	kah-nah-kah mah-oh-le	full-blooded Hawaiian person
kipa mai	kee-pah mah-ee	you’re welcome
mahalo nui loa	mah-ha-low new-ee low-ah	thank you very much
mai kai	mah-ee kah-ee	I am fine
okole maluna	oh-ko-lay mah-loo-nah	bottoms up
owai kau inoa?	oh-why kah-oo ee-no-ah?	What is your name?
pau hana	pow hah-nah	end of the work day
pehea oe?	pay-hay-ah oh-ay?	How are you?