First, there was the list of ultra-useful Hawaiian words. Now it’s time to focus on the local everyday vernacular of our kama’aina (local residents).
As you’ll see, local Hawaii vernacular uses a mix of words from English, Hawaiian, Japanese and other languages as well as some hybrid/made-up words.
Before you read on, a word of advice: this list is more for learning about than it is for actual speaking (you may get some weird looks if you try). Therefore, speak at your own risk. Ready?
Slippers / “slippahs”
Other people call them thongs, flip flops or sandals. In Hawaii, we call them slippers and usually pronounce them “slipp-ahs.”
Okole
Try not to giggle — okole means “butt.”
Puka
Puka is the Hawaiian word for “hole. ” Very handy.
Piko
Like an okole, everyone has a piko — aka “bellybutton.”
Howzit
Howzit is the local way of saying “How’s it going?”
Da kine
Da kine is such an awesome and useful term that we’re repeating it from the Hawaiian word list.
Da kine means “that thing.” It can be used in vague terms when you can’t remember the thing in question: “Where did you put da kine?”
It can also be used to describe something you know about but don’t want to explicitly mention, like “Watch out for him — he get da kine.”
Brah
Brah is one of the most common terms used in Hawaii. It means “dude” or “mate.”
Shoots
Shoots is a super handy term which basically means “sure,” “okay,” “right on.” You can even combine brah and shoots for “Shoots, brah!”
Poke (proper pronunciation)
Most of you probably know poke is (yummy Hawaiian style raw fish), but have you ever stopped and wondered how to pronounce it properly? Well, here you go — it’s “po-kay.”
Shaka
A shaka is a hand gesture that means hello, what’s up or aloha. Make a fist, then fully extend your pinky and thumb.
Haole
A haole is an outsider, or a person of Caucasian descent (or both). Haole can be sometimes be used in an insulting way.
Small kine / “skosh”
“Just a little”
Choke
Choke means “a lot” of something.
Lua
Lua is the Hawaiian word for bathroom.
Pau hana
Pau hana is that wonderful time of day after work, before dinner, when you can just kick back and enjoy a beverage and snack (pupu) with good company.
Pupu
A pupu is an appetizer, tapa or hors d’oeuvre.
Grind
To grind is “to eat.”
Hana hou
Hana hou means “encore.”
Kapu
Kapu means sacred or forbidden. It can also be used in casual terms, as in “Nani just kapu-ed my surfboard, so I can’t paddle out right now.”
Learn more about kapu here.
Hapa
Hapa refers to someone that’s half or mixed race.
***
Need a hand with your next Maui vacation? Please contact the Sunny Maui Vacations team at info@sunnymauivacations.com or call 808-240-1311, ext. 21. We’ll find you the best vacation rental condo in South Maui and help you with any and all recommendations and activities across Maui (chat with our in-house Concierge at extension 71).
Image credits: Ian Rinefort, makenag, nukelarburrito, auvet, Juliane Ragojo, kanaka, Tyler Raye, Don Daskalo, volvob12b, Roozbeh Eslami, danramarch, thegirlsny, Derek Owens, Jeremy Bishop, Logan Lambert, Jakob Owens, Tim Foster, 8751723@N02, taylor deas, Marvin Meyer, Stoke Drift
Need a hand with your next Maui vacation? Please contact the Sunny Maui Vacations team at info@sunnymauivacations.com or call 808-240-1311, ext. 21. We’ll find you the best vacation rental condo or rental home in South Maui and help you with any and all recommendations and activities across Maui.
