Hawai`i {What to Say}

12/7/2018

Hawai`i was my home for 5.5 years. The Aloha State is abundantly gorgeous, the weather is nearly perfect, and the aloha spirit is truly unique.

My nieces are visiting Hawai`i for the first time next month so I'm finally gathering my thoughts and photos to create something useful for them, and for you, if you're planning a visit to Hawai`i. Enjoy this post on Hawai`i {What to Say} and keep an eye out for the accompanying posts: Hawai`i {What to See} and Hawai`i {What to Eat}.

Aloha! A visit to Hawai`i is something remarkable regardless of if it's your first trip or your 50th. When you arrive to the islands, some words you'll hear won't be what you're used to. Some things that you may have learned to say from Hawai`i via TV shows and movies may not be just right once you're there. There will be a few phrases and words on this list that you won't know you need until you're in Hawaii, with your day to day life across the ocean behind you!

Lani Kai beach on Oahu

Consider this list my gift to you! Enjoy every moment in Hawai`i and keep an open mind, you'll fall in love.

Of course, I'm not an expert in Hawaiian culture, history, or language, just someone who loves and appreciates Hawai`i.

Happy to have survived a scary hike, a few weeks after I moved to Oahu

In Hawai`i, on an island
While you're going to be in Hawai`i (the state and group of islands), be sure to use on to refer to the island you're visiting.

"We're vacationing in Hawai`i, staying on Oahu!"

On the Mainland
Similarly, when you are in Hawai`i and you want to talk about where you came from, you're looking for the term "on the mainland." Historical fact check: Hawai`i is the 50th of the United States of America. Do not say "in the US."

"Here in Hawai`i the pineapples are a hundred times better than the ones that we get back home on the mainland!"

Okina
An okina is that little thing between the two letters at the end of Hawai`i. It looks like a backwards apostrophe and it's meant to separate, cut, or break. I don't recommend you try to get fancy with how you say Hawaii, just yet!

"That's not an apostrophe, Dad, it's an okina!"

Aloha
Aloha can mean hello and goodbye. You can use it alone as a greeting, just the same way you would say hello when you first arrive or goodbye when you're departing.

"Aloha, you're up early this morning!" or "Have a good night, aloha."

Aloha also represents feelings of love, gratitude, and positivity. Aloha, in this sense, can describe a person, place, or experience.

"The anniversary party was so nice, you could really feel the aloha surrounding them." or "Hawaii is filled with the aloha spirit."

Mahalo
Mahalo means thank you. Use it just like you would use thanks or thank you. The reply is... you're welcome!

"Can we please have more napkins? Mahalo!"

Ohana
Ohana means family.

"I see you brought the whole ohana with you today!"

Hibiscus flowers are prettier in real life than the emoji, you'll see them often in Hawaii`i

Ono
Ono means good.

"I hate peanuts, but macadamia nuts are so ono!"

Pau (said like pow)
Pau means finished or done. Pau hana is Happy Hour, the celebration when work is done!

"I'll call you back when this movie is pau, there's only about ten minutes left."

Shaka
The shaka is the hand gesture of Hawai`i, using outstretched pinky finger and thumb. I'm going to ask you to forget the term "hang loose" and call it only a shaka.

"Let's take one smiling picture, then one where we all throw up a shaka."

Aloha Shirt
The printed floral button down shirts you've seen on TV and in everyone's honeymoon photos are called aloha shirts, not Hawaiian shirts.

"Tomorrow I'm wearing a pair of jeans and an aloha shirt."

Shave ice
The big bowl of cold and colorful icy dessert is called shave ice. It's not a snow cone or shaved ice, it's shave ice.

"If you don't eat all of your veggies you won't get any shave ice!"

Lanai
In Hawai`i, you call a balcony a lanai. There's no difference in the object, just what it's called.

"He hasn't left, he's watching the sunset from the lanai."

A beautiful rainbow over downtown Honolulu, on Oahu

Aunty and Uncle
Instead of calling someone who's older than you Mister or Sir, Miss, Mrs, or Ma'am, you can respectfully call them Aunty or Uncle.

"Excuse me Aunty, what time is it?" or "No thanks, Uncle!"

Kane and Wahine
Kane means men and wahine means women. You'll see these words on the doors to the restrooms sometimes!

"The one wearing the dress is the room for wahine, remember W for women!"

Local
Being from Hawai`i does not make you Hawaiian, it makes you local. "Local" is like "the mainland," another phrase/word that you didn't know you needed.

Hawaiian pertains to the specific race and culture of Native Hawai`i and using the word Hawaiian incorrectly can be disrespectful.

"The whole family is from Maui, they're local."

Haole
Haole means foreigner but generally is used to describe a white person. It's typically not used to offend unless it's paired with some more colorful language!

"She's haole, medium height, and has super curly hair."

Honu
A honu is a sea turtle!

"The best part of snorkeling was seeing the baby honu swimming with it's Mamma!"

Humuhumunukunukuapua`a
Humuhumunukunukuapua`a is the Hawai`i state fish!

"My favorite fish was the humuhumunukunukuapua`a, of course Aunty!"