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Hawaiian phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

You can check the original Wikivoyage article Here

    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

    [edit]

    Basics

    [edit]
    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

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    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

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    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    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

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    ____ 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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    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)

    Bars

    [edit]

    Shopping

    [edit]

    Driving

    [edit]

    Authority

    [edit]
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