Important Hawaiian Words

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

• Hawaiian Language Guide