The Hawaiian Islands are unique in more ways than any one person could count – and that includes our language, vocabulary, and local diction. While most people from Hawaii don’t exclusively speak Hawaiian – except those who call Niihau home – there are a variety of Hawaiian phrases that are still frequently used today. From traditional Hawaiian sayings to modern slang and pidgin terms, these 17 coolest Hawaiian words used throughout the islands might make visitors swear Hawaii locals have their own language – which they technically do, of course.
- Pau Hana
K Hardy/Flickr Directly translating to “after work,” pau hana is a celebration of the end of the work day. Basically: happy hour.
- Howzit, braddah?
Flickr/Viv Lynch This common Hawaiian greeting essentially translates to “What’s up, man?” and is easily a shortened version of “How is it going?”
- Da Kine
Tara Severns/Flickr Often seen as a placeholder word with no true definition, da kine is often used as the English equivalent to whatchamacallit, you know, for when you really don’t want to use real words.
- Ono Grinds
Michelle Lee/Flickr Quite literally, delicious food. As in, “Braddah, let’s go to Rainbow Drive In for some ono grinds.”
- Aloha aina
Gary Eyring/Flickr Directly translated from Hawaiian, “love of the land,” Aloha Aina is a term to describe the nurturing and care of our land.
- E Komo Mai
Flickr/Loren Javier Meaning welcome or enter, “E Komo Mai,” is perhaps one of the most common phrases you’ll hear in Hawaii.
- Hapa Haole
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr If haole refers to someone of Caucasian descent, what does hapa haole mean? Someone of mixed race, of course.
- Mahalo Nui Loa
Eliot Phillips/Flickr This is what you say when you are extremely thankful. Quite literally, “thank you very much.”
- Kala Mai Ia’u
Cory Sitko/Flickr A polite term meaning “Excuse me.”
- Okole
Tom Simpson/Flickr A not-so-polite slang term meaning “butt.”
- Pehea’oe?
Hinterhaus Productions / DigitalVision via Getty Images You might not hear this greeting as often as “Howzit,” but it essentially means the same thing: how are you?
- Kama’aina
Marvin Chandra/Flickr Kama’aina literally translates to “child of the land,” but generally refers to Hawaii locals.
- Pono
Joe Parks/Flickr Like Da Kine, this is another catchall word. It is often defined as righteousness, but can also mean fair, moral, or proper.
- Broke Da Mout
Paul Oka/Flickr A term used when talking about ono grinds… Broke da mout is used when your food is so good it basically “broke your mouth.” This is easily my favorite slang term used in Hawaii.
- No Can
Albert de Bruijn/Flickr Quite literally, “I can’t.” Also potential definitions: it’s not possible, cannot.
- Choke
Stem/Flickr No, we’re not referring to the common verb in the English language. In Hawaii, choke is a slang term that means “a lot of something.”
- A Hui Hou
Waifer X/Flickr A hui hou translates to “until we meet again,” and sounds a lot nicer than simply saying goodbye.
If you’ve ever wondered how people talk in HI, now you know! How many of these Hawaiian sayings do you use on a regular basis? What about these 17 words only people from Hawaii understand?
K Hardy/Flickr
Directly translating to “after work,” pau hana is a celebration of the end of the work day. Basically: happy hour.
Flickr/Viv Lynch
This common Hawaiian greeting essentially translates to “What’s up, man?” and is easily a shortened version of “How is it going?”
Tara Severns/Flickr
Often seen as a placeholder word with no true definition, da kine is often used as the English equivalent to whatchamacallit, you know, for when you really don’t want to use real words.
Michelle Lee/Flickr
Quite literally, delicious food. As in, “Braddah, let’s go to Rainbow Drive In for some ono grinds.”
Gary Eyring/Flickr
Directly translated from Hawaiian, “love of the land,” Aloha Aina is a term to describe the nurturing and care of our land.
Flickr/Loren Javier
Meaning welcome or enter, “E Komo Mai,” is perhaps one of the most common phrases you’ll hear in Hawaii.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
If haole refers to someone of Caucasian descent, what does hapa haole mean? Someone of mixed race, of course.
Eliot Phillips/Flickr
This is what you say when you are extremely thankful. Quite literally, “thank you very much.”
Cory Sitko/Flickr
A polite term meaning “Excuse me.”
Tom Simpson/Flickr
A not-so-polite slang term meaning “butt.”
Hinterhaus Productions / DigitalVision via Getty Images
You might not hear this greeting as often as “Howzit,” but it essentially means the same thing: how are you?
Marvin Chandra/Flickr
Kama’aina literally translates to “child of the land,” but generally refers to Hawaii locals.
Joe Parks/Flickr
Like Da Kine, this is another catchall word. It is often defined as righteousness, but can also mean fair, moral, or proper.
Paul Oka/Flickr
A term used when talking about ono grinds… Broke da mout is used when your food is so good it basically “broke your mouth.” This is easily my favorite slang term used in Hawaii.
Albert de Bruijn/Flickr
Quite literally, “I can’t.” Also potential definitions: it’s not possible, cannot.
Stem/Flickr
No, we’re not referring to the common verb in the English language. In Hawaii, choke is a slang term that means “a lot of something.”
Waifer X/Flickr
A hui hou translates to “until we meet again,” and sounds a lot nicer than simply saying goodbye.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hawaiian Phrases August 11, 2022 Katie Lawrence What stereotypes are there about Hawaii? People make a lot of stereotypes about Hawaii locals. Some of these are just plain false, but others have some truth to them. One Hawaii stereotype we can totally get behind is that we all love the ocean. After all, when you’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches on earth, how could you not? Whether we’re hanging ten on a surfboard or just soaking up the sun with our toes in the sand, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Hawaii local who doesn’t spend a good bit of their time by the water. Living in paradise truly never gets old. What are the most popular foods in Hawaii? Of all the most iconic Hawaii foods, Spam is, perhaps, the most beloved. More Spam is sold in the Aloha State than anywhere else in America — and it didn’t even originate here! That claim to fame belongs to Minnesota, but the canned meat product was introduced to the islands in the 1940s, and, as they say, the rest was history. Spam is used in a variety of Hawaiian dishes, but Spam Musubi is arguably the most popular. This Hawaii delicacy is similar to sushi, featuring grilled Spam and rice wrapped up in nori, or seaweed. It’s absolutely delicious — the perfect snack to enjoy on the beach. Do Hawaiians have any strange habits? There are plenty of strange Hawaii habits that locals will defend until their last breath. One of these is spelling out the name of our street whenever we’re giving our address to someone over the phone (especially if said person doesn’t live in Hawaii.) It doesn’t mean we’re trying to belittle them — after all, our street names are hard enough to pronounce, let alone spell — but we wouldn’t change them for anything.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hawaiian Phrases
August 11, 2022
Katie Lawrence
What stereotypes are there about Hawaii? People make a lot of stereotypes about Hawaii locals. Some of these are just plain false, but others have some truth to them. One Hawaii stereotype we can totally get behind is that we all love the ocean. After all, when you’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches on earth, how could you not? Whether we’re hanging ten on a surfboard or just soaking up the sun with our toes in the sand, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Hawaii local who doesn’t spend a good bit of their time by the water. Living in paradise truly never gets old. What are the most popular foods in Hawaii? Of all the most iconic Hawaii foods, Spam is, perhaps, the most beloved. More Spam is sold in the Aloha State than anywhere else in America — and it didn’t even originate here! That claim to fame belongs to Minnesota, but the canned meat product was introduced to the islands in the 1940s, and, as they say, the rest was history. Spam is used in a variety of Hawaiian dishes, but Spam Musubi is arguably the most popular. This Hawaii delicacy is similar to sushi, featuring grilled Spam and rice wrapped up in nori, or seaweed. It’s absolutely delicious — the perfect snack to enjoy on the beach. Do Hawaiians have any strange habits? There are plenty of strange Hawaii habits that locals will defend until their last breath. One of these is spelling out the name of our street whenever we’re giving our address to someone over the phone (especially if said person doesn’t live in Hawaii.) It doesn’t mean we’re trying to belittle them — after all, our street names are hard enough to pronounce, let alone spell — but we wouldn’t change them for anything.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
People make a lot of stereotypes about Hawaii locals. Some of these are just plain false, but others have some truth to them. One Hawaii stereotype we can totally get behind is that we all love the ocean. After all, when you’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches on earth, how could you not? Whether we’re hanging ten on a surfboard or just soaking up the sun with our toes in the sand, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Hawaii local who doesn’t spend a good bit of their time by the water. Living in paradise truly never gets old.
What are the most popular foods in Hawaii?
Of all the most iconic Hawaii foods, Spam is, perhaps, the most beloved. More Spam is sold in the Aloha State than anywhere else in America — and it didn’t even originate here! That claim to fame belongs to Minnesota, but the canned meat product was introduced to the islands in the 1940s, and, as they say, the rest was history. Spam is used in a variety of Hawaiian dishes, but Spam Musubi is arguably the most popular. This Hawaii delicacy is similar to sushi, featuring grilled Spam and rice wrapped up in nori, or seaweed. It’s absolutely delicious — the perfect snack to enjoy on the beach.
Do Hawaiians have any strange habits?
There are plenty of strange Hawaii habits that locals will defend until their last breath. One of these is spelling out the name of our street whenever we’re giving our address to someone over the phone (especially if said person doesn’t live in Hawaii.) It doesn’t mean we’re trying to belittle them — after all, our street names are hard enough to pronounce, let alone spell — but we wouldn’t change them for anything.
