Ka Pï'äpä Hawai'i
(The Hawaiian Alphabet)
There are thirteen alphabets in the Hawaiian language. They are:
A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, W, '
Ka pï'äpä Hawai'i is not pronounced the same way as the English alphabet. Every letter has only one sound. For example, the letter a in the Hawaiian language has the sound as the letter a in the word "was". The following is the way Hawaiian letters should be pronounced.
'Ä (was), 'Ë (bet), 'Ï (me), 'Ö (go), 'Ü (moon), Hë (help), Kë (ketchup),
Lä (locker), Mü (moo), Nü (new), Pï (people), Wë (vet), 'okina
The 'okina or glottal stop is only found between two vowels. A break in speech is created between the sounds of the two vowels. The pronunciation of the 'okina is similar to saying "oh-oh". The 'okina is written as a backwards apostrophe.
Hawaiian Love Phrases
A O Ko Aloha Ka`u E Hi`ipoi Mau ~ With you joy will ever be mine
(Ah O Ke-O Ah-oh-low-ah Ka-oh-oh-oo E He-me-oh-oh-me-pe-o-me Mu-a-oo)
A O `Oe Ku`u Pua ~ You are my blossom
(Ah O O-e Ku-oh-oh-oo Pi-oo-ah)
Aka`aka Loko I Ka Ike A Ke Aloha ~ The secrets within me are seen through love
(Ah-ka-oh-oh-ah-ka La-ke-o Me Ke Me-ke Ah Ke Ah-low-ah)
Aloha Au Ia'oe ~ I Love You
(Ah-low-ah Ah-u Me-ah-oh-oh-o-e)
Aloha No Au Ia 'Oe ~ I Truly Love You
Aloha Nui Loa ~ All my love
E Hookumu Maua Ka Hale Puni Maua Ohana Me Ka Pumehana A Me Ka Oiloli
Kealoha ~ May we create a home that surrounds our family and friends with warmth, laughter and love.
E Hoomau Maua Kealoha ~ May our love last forever
Ia Iho Ke Aloha ~ To my love
Ka`u Ia E Lei A`e Nei La ~ I pledge my love to you alone
Ke Aloha ~ Beloved
Everyday Hawaiian Phrases
Anu~Cold
Ekala mai~Sorry
Hana~Business
Hana ma`amau~Operations
Hanana~Event
Hawai`i~Hawaiian
Helu~Counting
Hö`ike mai i`au i ke kälä~"Show me the money"
Ho`okuhi Expectation
Ho`oma`a Experience
Ho`omakaukau Training
Ho`opi`i Promotion
Hou Fresh
Hua 'ai Fruit
Hui Team
Huki Twist
Inu Drinki
Inu Käwili Hua `ai 'Olu`olu Smoothie
Ka Ho`omaka Nui Grand Opening
Ka`i Coach
Kälä Money
Kanaka Dude
Känaka na`auao Mentor
Ke Ola Kino Maika`i Healthy
Ki`i Tiki
Kope Coffee
Kope wili 'ia Espresso
Kü`ai Ho`ëmi Discount/Special
Kükä Advisory
Le`ale`a Enjoy
Lokahi Unity or Unite
Maika`i Wonderful
Maika`i loa Awesome
Mälama Mo`ohelu Kälä Accounting
Mälie Mellow
Mana`o 'olu`olu Smooth Attitude
Mea Mälama Mo`ohelu Kälä Accountant
Mikini helu Counter
Na Käwili (Blends), Käwili (blend) Blends or Blend
Na Kü`ai aku Sales
Nalu Surf
`Oihana Kälä Finance
`oihana waiwai Franchise
'Ohana Family
'Olu`olu Refreshing
'Ono Delicious
Po`e People
Pono`ï Authentic
Wä ho`omaha Vacation
Wä ho`omaha i loko o ke kï`aha Vacation in a Cup
Waiü Milk
Waiwai Financial
Wela Hot
Everyday Hawaiian Words:
Ao (ah-oh) clouds
Hale (hah-lay) house, residence
Hana (hah-nah) work, labor, make, do
Haole (how-lay) foreigner, white person
Holoku (ho-low-loo) mother hubbard type of dress, loose outer garment with long sleeves and train
Ipo (e-poh) lover
Kahaone (kah-how-nay) beach
Kai (kah-e) sea water, broth
Kane (kay-nay) male, husband, Polynesian deity
Kamaaina (kah-mah-eye-nah) son of the land, resident
Lanai (lah-nye) porch, verandah
Lei (lay-e) wreath, garland, neckwear
Luau (loo-ah-oo) feast, banquet
Mahalo (mah-ha-low) thanks, admire, praise
Malihini (mah-le-he-ne) stranger
Pali (pah-le) cliff, precipice, peak on Oahu
Pa-u (pah-'oo') kilt, grass skirt, hula skirt
Pau (pow) finish complete, end
Poi (poh-e) native staff of life pounded from taro
Pua (poo-wah) flower
Ua (oo-wah) rain
Wai (wah-e) water
Wahine (wah-he-nay) female of the species, woman, wife, girl friend
Wikiwiki (we-key-we-key) make it snappy, hurry, be quick
Hawaiian Greetings and Hawaiian Phrases
Pahea oe (pay-hay-yah-o-way) How are you
Mahalo a nui loa (mah-ha-low-ah-noo-e-lo-wah) Thanks very much
Mele Kalikimaka (may-lay-ka-le-ke-ma-kah) Merry Christmas (anglicized)
Aloha kakou (ah-low-ah kah-ko-oo) Greetings to all
Aloha kakahiaka (ah-low-ha kah-kah-he-ah-hak) Good Morning
Aloha auinala (ah-low-ha Ah-we-nah-lah) Good Afternoon
A hui hou kaua (ah hoo we ho-oo kah-wah) until we meet again
Hele mai (hay-lay-mak-e) come
Hele aku (hay-lay ah-koo) go away
A hui hou. (Ah who ee ho) "See you tomorrow", "Talk to you laters", "Until we meet again"
'Oihana Maika'i (Oh ee ha na my ka ee) "person/business in goodstanding"
Po'okela (Po oh ke la) "The best of the best"
Hawaiian Words A
a`a sharp jagged lava rock
`a`ala smell good
ae yes
ahe breeze
ahi fire
ahi`ahi evening
'ahui mai'a banana bunch
`aina land, earth
'Aina Kakahiaka breakfast
alanui street
`aka`aka laugh
akahele be careful of
akamai smart, intellegent
aloha is a greeting used to say hello or goodby.
anuanu cold
anuenue rainbow
`auinala afternoon
`aumakua family guardian spirits
apolima bracelet
awakea noontime
'awe backpack
Hawaiian Words H
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
Hawaiian Words I
ihu nose
ikaika strong
`ilio dog
inu drink
imu underground pit oven used in luau
Hawaiian Words K
ka'a automobile
kahakai beach
kahiko traditional, old, ancient
Kohala humpback whale
kai ocean, ocean water
kala dollar, money
kalo taro
kama`aina native-Hawaiian or long-time resident
kama'a 'ole barefoot
kapa moe blanket
kapu forbidden, sacred
kaukau food
koa strong, soldier, native acacia tree
kui to string as a lei
kokoke close, near, almost
kokua help, cooperation
kono invite
Hawaiian Words L
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
Hawaiian Words M
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 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
Hawaiian Words N&O
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
Hawaiian Words P
pa`akiki stubborn
pahoehoe smooth lava
palama palm tree
pa'i palaoa cake
pali cliff
pau done, completed
pinao dragonfly
pipi cow
pohaku stone, rock
poi pounded taro root
pololi hungry
pu`iwa surprise
puka hole
pulehu cook over hot coals
pulelehua butterfly
punahele favorite
pupu appetizer, snack
pupule crazy
pu`u hill, cinder cone
Hawaiian Words U & W
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 People Titles
kanaka human
kane man
kane male married
mankupunakane grandfather
kupunawahine grandmother
keiki child, offspring
keikikane son
koa soldier
kupuna grandparent
ku`uipo sweetheart
lawai`a fisherman
makamaka intimate friend
makua parent
makuahine mother
makuakane father
mo`i royalty, King or Queen
mo`opuna grandchild
ohana family
paniolo cowboy
wahine woman
wahine male married woman
wahine male hou bride
