Hawaiian & Pidgin Words and Phrases
The Hawaiian Islands are populated by a true melting pot of races. The language of Hawaii reflects the racial diversity of the islands and consists of a playful blend of Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese and English.
English
Towards the ocean
Towards the mountain
How are you?
A very close friend of the family
Pregnant
He is or She is
Man
Woman
The
Kind
The best
Better
Where are you going tonight?
Did not see it right; read the wrong thing
Stink
Let's go to ___
Please stop, or Don't do that
All messed up
Thank you
Family
A big bully
Where are you?
What do you want?
Please don't laugh/tease
Cannot
Never
Crazy
African-American
Portuguese
Chinese
Filipino
Japanese
Caucasian
Part Caucasian
Gay
A local; a person that lives in Hawaii
Food
Tastes great
The land
Mountain; towards the mountains
Sea; towards the sea
Fish: Crevally
Goatfish
Milkfish
Chicken
Pig
Dog
Hawaiian or Pidgin
Makai
Mauka
Howzit brah? or, in Hawaiian, Pehea Oi?
"Hanai" as in Hanai Aunt or Hanai Uncle
"Hapai"
He stay or She stay; as in "He stay at da zoo"
Kane (pronouced kah nay)
Wahine (pronounced wah hee nay)
da
kine
No ka oi or "da best"
Moa betta
Eh, wea you goin go tonight?
Makapi eye (pronouncma ka pee); as in "eh, you get makapi eye o wah?"
Kusai or kusai eye (dirty look)
Eh, we go ___; as in "Eh, we go beach"
Eh, no make like dat
Hamajang; as in "stay all Hamajang"
Mahalo (thanks) or Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank you very much)
Ohana
Mok (male) or Tita (female)
Wea you stay?
whatch you wan? or Whatch you wan do?
No make fun
No can
Neva
Pupuli
Popolo
Portugee
Pake
Bok bok (derogatory, pronounced book book)
Katong (derogatory)
Haole
Hapa Haole
Mahu
Kama'aina
Grinds, or in Hawaiian Kau Kau
Stay ono (or just Ono)
Aina
Mauna (mountain); Mauka (towards the mountain)
Kai (ocean); Makai (towards the ocean)
Ulua (big) or papio (small)
Weke (pronounced ve kee)
Awa
Moa
Pua"a
'ili'o