Hawaiian phrasebook

Hawaiian (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi), along with English, is an official language of the U.S. State of Hawaii. Hawaiian is a Polynesian language, and has many cognates with other Polynesian languages such as Māori, Tongan, and Samoan.

Pronunciation guide

The Hawaiian alphabet has just 13 letters: the vowels are A, E, I, O, and U, and the consonants are H, K, L, M, N, P, and W. The remaining letter (also a consonant) is ʻ which is called the ʻokina, and represents a glottal stop, a short pause like before each syllable of English "uh-oh". You will find these at the beginnings of words or in between vowels. When you see a glottal stop, don't let the syllables run into each other; instead, pause for a very brief moment and continue with the word.

In addition, a macron (straight line over vowel, called a kahakō) indicates a long vowel. When you see a macron, draw out the vowel for a little longer than you would a normal vowel.

The ʻokina and kahakō are sometimes omitted; this is very common on street signs. While this can make some words ambiguous, if you're not a professional linguist studying Hawaiian it's unlikely to cause any problems.

Vowels

a is pronounced "ah" - like the "a" in "father".

e is pronounced "eh" - like the "e" in "hello".

i is pronounced "ee" - like the name of the English letter "e".

o is pronounced "oh" - just like the English "o".

u is pronounced "oo" - like the "oo" in "food".

Consonants

All consonants in Hawaiian are pronounced like their English counterparts, with the exception of w, which is pronounced both like the English "w" and like the English "v", changing the "wuh" sound to a "vuh" sound.

Common diphthongs

Diphthongs in Hawaiian can be tricky. You must make sure that there is not a glottal stop between the vowels - if there is, you do not blend the vowels, but instead insert a pause between them. If there is no glottal stop, however, just blend the vowels together in most cases.

aa, ee, ii, oo, and uu are not pronounced differently than their single forms. "aa" is pronounced the same as "a".

ae is pronounced like the English "I".

ai is pronounced by saying "Eye-ee".

ao is pronounced "Ah-oh".

au is pronounced like the English "ow" - like what you say when you're hurt.

ea is pronounced "Ey-ah". (like a long "a" followed by ahhh)

ei is pronounced "Ey-ee".

eo is pronounced "Ey-oh".

ia is pronounced "Ee-ah", but you can get away with saying "Ya".

ie is pronounced "Ee-ey", but you can get away with saying "Yay".

io is pronounced "Ee-oh", but you can get away with saying "Yo".

oa is pronounced "Oh-ah".

oe is pronounced "Oh-ey".

oi is pronounced "Oh-ee".

ou is pronounced "Oh-oo".

ua is pronounced "Oo-ah".

ue is pronounced "Oo-ey", but you can also say the word "way" and you'll be pretty close.

ui is pronounced "Oo-ee".

uo is pronounced "Oo-oh", but you can also say the word "whoa" and you'll be pretty close.

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs


MEN
Kāne
WOMEN
Wahine
Hello.
Aloha. (ah-LO-ha)
Hello. (informal)
Aloha. (ah-LO-ha)
How are you?
Pehea ʻoe? (pey-HEY-ah OH-ey)
Fine, thank you.
Maikaʻi, mahalo. (my-KAI-ee, ma-HA-lo)
What is your name?
ʻO wai kou inoa? (oh vy KO EE-no-ah)
My name is ______.
ʻO _____ ko'u inoa.(oh _____ KO-oo EE-no-ah)
Nice to meet you.
Ua maika'i ko kaua hui 'ana (OO-ah my-KAI-ee ko COW-ah HOO-ee AH-na)
Please.
ʻOluʻolu. (OH-loo-OH-loo)
Thank you.
Mahalo. (ma-HA-lo)
You're welcome.
He me iki ia/Me pu oe. (HAY may EE-kee EE-ah/MAY poo OH-ey)
Yes.
ʻAe. (eye)
No.
ʻAʻole. (AH-oh-lay)
Excuse me. (getting attention)
E ia nei. (EY EE-ah NAY-ee)
Excuse me. (begging pardon)
Noi kou kala. (NO-ee KO-oo KA-la)
I'm sorry.
E kala mai iaʻu. (ey KA-la my YA-oo)
Goodbye.
A hui hou. (AH HOO-ee HO-oo)
Goodbye. (informal)
Aloha. (ah-LO-ha)
I can't speak Hawai'ian [well].
[]. ( [])
Do you speak Hawai'ian?
ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi ʻoe? (OH-leh-lo ha-VY-ee OH-ey)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
ʻOlelo Pelekania kekahi? (OH-leh-lo peh-leh-ka-NEE-ah kay-KA-hee)
Help!
Kōkua! (KO-koo-ah)
Look out!
E akahele! (EY ah-ka-HAY-lay)
Good morning.
Aloha kakahiaka. (ah-LO-ha ka-ka-hee-AH-ka)
Good evening.
Aloha ahiahi. (ah-LO-ha AH-hi-AH-hi)
Good night.
Aloha pō. (ah-LO-ha PO)
Good night. (to sleep)
Pō maikaʻi. (PO my-KAI-ee)
I don't understand.
ʻAʻole maopopo. (AH-oh-lay MA-oh-po-po)
Where is the toilet?
Ma hea ka lua? (ma HAY-ah ka LOO-ah)

Problems

Leave me alone.
Haʻalele koʻu hoʻokahi. (HA-ah-lay-lay KO-oo ho-oh-KA-hee)
Don't touch me!
ʻAʻole pā koʻu! (ah-OH-lay PA KO-oo)
I'll call the police.
E hea mākaʻi ana au! (EY HAY-ah MA-ka-ee ah-na ow)
Police!
Mākaʻi! (MA-ka-ee)
Stop! Thief!
Hoʻopau! ʻAihue! (HO-oh-pow! AY-hoo-ey)
I need help.
Kōkua pono au. (KO-koo-ah PO-no ow)
It's an emergency.
Ulia pōpilikia. (oo-LEE-ah PO-pee-lee-kee-ah)
I'm lost.
O lilo au. (oh LEE-lo ow)
I lost my bag.
ʻEke koʻu lilo au. (EY-kay KO-oo LEE-lo ow)
I lost my wallet.
ʻEke kālā koʻu lilo au. (EY-kay KA-LA KO-oo LEE-lo ow)
I'm sick.
O maʻi au. (oh MA-ee ow)
I'm injured.
O ʻālina au. (oh AH-lee-na ow)
I need a doctor.
Kauka pono au. (KOW-ka PO-no ow)
Can I use your phone?
Kou kelepona hoʻohana au? (KOU kay-lay-PO-na HO-oh-HA-na ow)

Numbers

0
ʻOle (OH-lay)
1
ʻEkahi (ey-KA-hee)
2
ʻElua (ey-LOO-ah)
3
ʻEkolu (ey-KOH-loo)
4
ʻEhā (ey-HAH)
5
ʻElima (ey-LEE-ma)
6
ʻEono (ey-OH-no)
7
ʻEhiku (ey-HEE-koo)
8
ʻEwalu (ey-VAH-loo)
9
ʻEiwa (ey-EE-vah)
10
ʻUmi (OO-mee)
11
ʻUmi kūmākahi (OO-mee KOO-ma-KA-hee)
12
ʻUmi kūmālua (OO-mee KOO-ma-LOO-ah)
13
ʻUmi kūmākolu (OO-mee KOO-ma-KOH-loo)
14
ʻUmi kūmāhā (OO-mee KOO-ma-HAH)
15
ʻUmi kūmālima (OO-mee KOO-ma-LEE-ma)
16
ʻUmi kūmāono (OO-mee KOO-ma-OH-no)
17
ʻUmi kūmāhiku (OO-mee KOO-ma-HEE-koo)
18
ʻUmi kūmāwalu (OO-mee KOO-ma-VAH-loo)
19
ʻUmi kūmāiwa (OO-mee KOO-ma-EE-vah)
20
Iwakālua (ee-vah-KA-loo-ah)
21
Iwakālua kūmākahi (ee-vah-KA-loo-ah KOO-ma-KA-hee)
22
Iwakālua kūmālua (ee-vah-KA-loo-ah KOO-ma-LOO-ah)
23
Iwakālua kūmākolu (ee-vah-KA-loo-ah KOO-ma-KOH-loo)
24
Iwakālua kūmāhā (ee-vah-KA-loo-ah KOO-ma-HA)
25
Iwakālua kūmālima (ee-vah-KA-loo-ah KOO-ma-LEE-ma)
30
Kanakolu (ka-na-KOH-loo)
40
Kanahā (ka-na-HA)
50
Kanalima (ka-na-LEE-ma)
60
Kanaono (ka-na-OH-no)
70
Kanahiku (ka-na-HEE-koo)
80
Kanawalu (ka-na-VAH-loo)
90
Kanaiwa (ka-na-EE-vah)
100
Hanele (ha-NAY-lay)
200
ʻElua haneli (ey-LOO-ah ha-NAY-lee)
300
ʻEkolu haneli (ey-KOH-loo ha-NAY-lee)
500
ʻElima haneli (ey-LEE-ma ha-NAY-lee)
1000
Kaukani (kow-KAH-nee)
2000
ʻElua kaukani (ey-LOO-ah kow-KAH-nee)
1,000,000
Miliona (mee-lee-OH-na)
1,000,000,000
Piliona (pee-lee-OH-na)
Half
Hapalua (ha-pa-LOO-ah)
Less
Hapa iki (ha-pa EE-kee)
More
Hou (HO-oo)

Time

now
i kēia manawa (ee KAY-ee-ah ma-na-VAH)
later
mahope aku (ma-HO-pay AH-koo)
before
mua (MOO-ah)
morning
kakahiaka (ka-ka-hee-AH-ka)
afternoon
ʻauinalā (ow-EE-na-LA)
night
pō (PO)

Clock time

one o'clock AM
hola ʻekahi AM (HO-la ey-KA-hee AH-moo)
two o'clock AM
hola ʻelua AM (HO-la ey-LOO-ah AH-moo)
ten o'clock AM
hola 'umi AM (HO-la OO-mee AH-moo)
noon
awakea (ah-vah-KAY-ah)
one o'clock PM
hola 'ekahi PM (HO-la ey-KA-hee PEE-moo)
two o'clock PM
hola 'elua PM (HO-la ey-LOO-ah PEE-moo)
ten o'clock PM
hola 'umi PM (HO-la OO-mee PEE-moo)
midnight
aumoe (OW-mo-ey)

Duration

____ minute(s)
____ minuke (mee-NOO-kay)
____ hour(s)
____ hola (HO-la)
____ day(s)
____ lā (LA)
____ week(s)
____ pule (POO-lay)
____ month(s)
____ mahina (ma-HEE-na)
____ year(s)
____ makahiki (ma-ka-HEE-kee)

Days

today
i kēia lā (ee KAY-ee-ah LA)
yesterday
nehinei (nay-HEE-nay-ee)
tomorrow
ʻapōpō (ah-PO-po)
this week
kēia pule (KAY-ee-ah POO-lay)
last week
mua pule (MOO-ah POO-lay)
next week
aʻe pule (AH-ey POO-lay)
Monday
Poʻakahi (po-ah-KA-hee)
Tuesday
Poʻalua (po-ah-LOO-ah)
Wednesday
Poʻakolu (po-ah-KOH-loo)
Thursday
Poʻahā (po-ah-HA)
Friday
Po'alima (po-ah-LEE-ma)
Saturday
Po'aono (po-ah-OH-no)
Sunday
Lāpule (LA-poo-lay)

Note: Days of the week begin on Monday.

Months

January
Ianuali (ee-AH-noo-ah-lee)
February
Pepeluali (pay-pay-loo-AH-lee)
March
Malaki (ma-LA-kee)
April
Apelila (ah-pay-LEE-la)
May
Mei (may-EE)
June
Iune (ee-OO-nay)
July
Iulai (ee-OO-ly)
August
ʻAukake (ow-KA-kay)
September
Kepakemapa (kay-pah-kay-MA-pa)
October
ʻOkakopa (oh-ka-KOH-pa)
November
Nowemapa (no-vay-MA-pa)
December
Kekemapa (kay-kay-MA-pa)

Writing Dates

Dates are written like so: O ka lā (day) kēia o (month) o (year)

This translates in English to "On the (day) day of this (month) of (year)".

Example: To write "June 19, 2007", you would write O ka lā 19 kēia o Iune o 2007.

Colors

black
ʻeleʻEle (EH-lay-EH-lay)
white
keʻokeʻo (KAY-oh-KAY-oh)
gray
ʻāhinahina (AH-hee-na-hee-na)
red
ʻulaʻula (OO-la-OO-la)
blue
polū (po-LOO)
yellow
melemele (MAY-lay-MAY-lay)
green
ʻōmaʻomaʻo (OH-ma-oh-ma-oh)
orange
ʻalani (ah-LA-nee)
purple
poni (PO-nee)
brown
makuʻe/palaunu (ma-KOO-ey/pa-LA-oo-noo)
pink
ʻākala (AH-ka-la)

Transportation

car
kaʻa (KA-ah)
bus
kaʻa ʻōhua (KA-ah OH-hoo-ah)
train
kaʻaahi (ka-AH-hee)
airplane
mokulele (MO-koo-lay-lay)
bicycle
paikikala (PY-kee-ka-la)
motorcycle
mokokaikala (mo-ko-KY-ka-la)

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to ________?
Kumu kūʻai o kikiki i ________? (KOO-moo KOO-eye o kee-KEE-kee i ________?)
One ticket to ________, please.
ʻEkahi kikiki i ________, ʻoluʻolu. (ey-KA-hee kee-KEE-kee ee ________, OH-loo-OH-loo)
Where does this train/bus go?
ʻAuhea kaʻa ʻōhua/kaʻaahi nō hele ai? (ow-HAY-ah KA-ah OH-hoo-ah/ka-AH-hee NO HAY-lay eye)

Directions

Where is ________?
ʻAuhea ________? (ow-HAY-ah)
Show me on the map.
Hōʻike koʻu i palapalaʻāina. (HO-ee-kay KO-oo ee pa-la-pa-la-EYE-na)
street
alanui (ah-la-NOO-ee)
Turn left.
Huli hema (HOO-lee HAY-ma)
Turn right.
Huli ʻākau (HOO-lee AH-kow)
straight ahead
i mua pololei (ee MOO-ah po-lo-LAY)
Towards the mountain.
Mauka (MOW-kuh)
Towards the sea.
Makai (mah-k-EYE)
North
Akau (ah-KOW)
South
Hema (HAY-ma)
West
Komohana (KO-mo-HA-na)
East
Hikina (hee-KEE-na)
uphill
i luna (ee LOO-na)
downhill
i lalo (ee LA-lo)
intersection
huina (hoo-EE-na)

Taxi

Taxi!
Kaʻa ʻōhua! (KA-ah OH-hoo-ah)
Take me to _________ please.
Lawe aʻu i _________ ʻoluʻolu. (LA-vay ah-oo ee _________ OH-loo-OH-loo)
How much does it cost to go _________?
Kumu kūʻai i hele i _________? (KOO-moo KOO-eye ee HAY-lay ee _________?)
Leave me there, please.
Hoʻi aʻu laila, ʻoluʻolu. (HO-ee AH-oo LY-la, OH-loo-OH-loo)

Lodging

Are there any rooms available?
Kekahi lumi hāmama? (kay-KA-hee LOO-mee HA-ma-ma)
How much is the room?
Kumu kūʻai o lumi? (KOO-moo KOO-eye oh LOO-mee)
Does the room come with...
Lumi aia maloko... (LOO-mee EYE-ah MA-lo-ko)
... bedsheets?
hāliʻi moe? (HA-lee-ee MO-ey)
... a bathroom?
he lua? (he LOO-ah)
... a telephone?
he kelepona? (he kay-lay-PO-na)
... a TV?
he kelewikiona? (he KAY-lay-vee-kee-OH-na)
I will stay for ____ nights.
Au noho no ____ pō. (AH-oo NO-ho no ____ PO)
Wake me at ________.
Hoʻāla aʻu ________. (ho-AH-la AH-oo ________)
I am checking out.
Au kaha waho. (ow KA-ha VA-ho)

Money

Do you accept American/Canadian/Australian money?
ʻĀpono ʻAmelika/Kanaka/ʻAukekulelia kālā? (AH-po-no ah-may-LEE-ka/ka-NA-ka/ow-kay-koo-lay-LEE-lee-a KA-la)
Do you accept British pounds?
ʻĀpono Pelekane paona? (AH-po-no pay-lay-KA-nay pa-OH-na)
Do you accept euros?
ʻĀpono ʻEulopa kālā? (AH-po-no EH-oo-LO-pa KA-la)
Do you accept credit cards?
ʻĀpono hōʻaiʻē kāleka? (AH-po-no HO-eye-EY KA-lay-ka)
Can you change money?
ʻOe loli kālā? (OH-ey LO-lee KA-la)
Where is an ATM (Automated Teller Machine)?
ʻAuhea mīkini panakō? (ow-HAY-ah MEE-kee-nee pa-na-KOH)

Eating

Table, please.
Pākaukau, ʻoluʻolu. (PA-kow-kow, OH-loo-OH-loo)
Menu, please.
Papa kuhikuhi mea ʻai, ʻoluʻolu. (PA-pa KOO-hee-KOO-hee MAY-ah EYE, OH-loo-OH-loo)
I'm vegetarian.
O mea ulu ʻai wale nō au. (oh MAY-ah OO-loo eye VA-lay NO ow)
breakfast
ʻaina kakahiaka. (EYE-na ka-ka-hee-AH-ka)
lunch
ʻaina awakea. (EYE-na ah-vah-KAY-ah)
dinner
ʻaina ahiahi (EYE-na AH-hee-AH-hee)
chicken
moa (MO-ah)
beef
pipi (PEE-pee)
fish
iʻa (EE-ah)
ham
puaʻa hame (poo-AH-ah HA-may)
sausage
naʻaukake (NA-ow-KA-kay)
cheese
waiūpaʻa (vy-OO-pa-ah)
eggs
hua (HOO-ah)
salad
lau ʻai (LA-oo eye)
vegetables
mea ulu (MAY-ah OO-loo)
fruit
he mea ulu i mea ai (hay MAY-ah OO-loo ee MAY-ah eye)
bread
palaoa (pa-la-OH-ah)
toast
palaoa hoʻopāpaʻa (pa-la-OH-ah HO-oh-PA-pa-ah)
noodles
nulu (NOO-loo)
rice
laiki (LY-kee)
beans
pāpapa (PA-pa-pa)
coffee
kope (KO-pay)
tea
kī (KEE)
water
wai (VY)
juice
ka wai mai ka mea ulu mai (ka VY MY ka MAY-ah OO-loo MY)
beer
pia (PEE-ah)
wine
waina (VY-nah)
salt
paʻakai (pa-ah-KY)
black pepper
pepa (PAY-pah)
butter
waiūpaka (vy-OO-pa-ka)
Waiter!
Kuene! (koo-AY-nay)
Check, please.
Pila kīkoʻo, ʻoluʻolu. (PEE-la KEE-ko-oh, OH-loo-OH-loo)

Authority

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