Important Hawaiian Words

Monday, March 13th 2023

Here are 20 important Hawaiian words and their meanings:

  1. Aloha - love, affection, greeting, farewell
  2. Mahalo - thank you
  3. Ohana - family, including close friends and community members
  4. Pono - righteousness, balance, harmony
  5. Mana - spiritual energy, power
  6. Hula - traditional Hawaiian dance
  7. Kamaaina - a local resident of Hawaii
  8. Kapu - sacred, forbidden
  9. Lei - a wreath or necklace made of flowers, leaves, or shells
  10. Luau - a Hawaiian feast or party
  11. Makai - towards the ocean
  12. Mauka - towards the mountains
  13. Ono - delicious, tasty
  14. Pau - finished, done
  15. Puka - hole, opening
  16. Ukelele - a small guitar-like instrument
  17. Hau'oli - happy, joyful
  18. Mano - shark
  19. Nalu - wave
  20. Kona - leeward, sunny side of an island

Note: Hawaiian language has many diacritical marks and pronunciations, so these words might be pronounced differently than how they look in English.

Important phrases

  • E komo mai - Welcome
  • A hui hou - Until we meet again
  • Hana hou - Do it again, encore
  • Mahalo nui loa - Thank you very much
  • Hau'oli la hanau - Happy birthday
  • E kala mai - I'm sorry, excuse me
  • Pau hana - After work, happy hour
  • Malama 'aina - To care for and preserve the land

See Also