Speaking
Hawaiian
People in Hawaii really do
say "Aloha" and other Hawaiian
terms on a regular basis (this isn’t
a gimmick done just for the tourists).
Here is some basic Hawaiian and
not-so-Hawaiian vocabulary you will need
to know in order to get by in Hawaii.
Aloha!
Must
Haves
Some key words you
must know before you get to Hawaii:
Aloha (pronounced: uh-LOW-hah)
– used in place of hello and
goodbye. Also the dominant philosophy
of the islands, roughly translating
to love -- of self, of others, of
celebration, and of the natural
wonders that Hawaii offers.
Kane (KAHNN-ee)
– a man
Lanai (luh-NIE-ee)
-- name of one of the Hawaiian
islands. Also is the Hawaiian term
for what main-landers would call a
balcony. Most hotel rooms in Hawaii
have lanais.
Lei (LAY) -- A
necklace made of fragrant flowers
strung together. Traditionally used
to say hello, goodbye, thanks, or to
celebrate nearly anything.
Luau (lew-OW) A Hawaiian feast.
Typically held on the beach. Not to
be confused with a lua (a toilet).
Mahalo – (muh-HAH-low) Thank
you.
The Big Island – Nickname given to the Island
of Hawaii in order to distinguish it
from the rest of the Hawaiian chain.
Wahine (Wah HEE Nee)
– a woman.
Windward Side–
The side of each island that bears
the full brunt of the southwesterly
trade winds that bring in rain and
other stormy weather. The windward
sides are generally the eastern and
northern portions of each island.
These sides get considerably more
rain than the leeward sides, which
are sheltered from the rain by the
mountains on each island.
Leeward Side – The side of each
island that is sheltered from the
southwesterly trade winds. The
leeward part of each island receives
much less rain than the windward side
of the island. Most of the major
resorts are on the leeward sides of
their respective islands.
Good
To Know
Some bonus words
that may come in handy:
Alii (ah-LEE-EE) -
Hawaiian royalty
Hang
Loose – A surfing term
encouraging surfers to be relaxed,
and not nervous or stiff. In much the
same way that hanging loose will
allow for a better surfing ride,
Hawaiians believe that hanging loose
in life in general will allow for a
more enjoyable ride through life.
Take note of the universal
hand signal that means "hang loose."
Haole (HOW- lee) – white
foreigner or outsider. Not
necessarily a derogatory term;
originated when white sailors first
began to visit the Hawaiian islands
(synonym: Caucasian).
Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (too difficult to
pronounce)– the state fish and
the topic of several popular Hawaiian
songs
Kahuna (kuh-HOO-nah)
– A Hawaiian priest and wise man
knowledgeable about many things.
Today, the term is often used to
refer to an individual equally
skilled in the fine arts of heavy
partying (i.e. "The Big
Kahuna").
Makai (mah-KIE)
– toward the ocean
Mauka (MOW-kuh) -- toward the
mountains (i.e drive Mauka, make a
left, etc.).
Poi (POY) – a
purple-ish paste made from the taro
root. A staple of traditional
Hawaiian cuisine. Definitely an
acquired taste.
BOOK
AN ACTIVITY
Make the most of your time in the islands
by booking your vacation activities now! Click here
to get tickets to tours, attractions and
hundreds of other Hawaii activities.
Site
Directory:
|
