Hawaiian phrasebook

Hawaiian (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi), along with English, is an official language of the State of Hawaii.

Pronunciation guide

The Hawaiian alphabet has just 12 letters - consonants are H, K, L, M, N, P, and W, and vowels are A, E, I, O, and U.

In addition, there are two symbols that are commonly used. A glottal stop (`, called an "`okina") indicates a short pause. 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. A macron (straight line over vowel, called a "kahakō") indicates a stressed vowel. When you see a macron, draw out the vowel for a little longer than you would a normal vowel.

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".

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 `oe? (pey-HEY-ah OH-ey)

Fine, thank you. 

Maika`i, mahalo. (my-KAI-ee, ma-HA-lo)

What is your name? 

`O wai kou inoa? (oh vy KO EE-no-ah)

My name is ______. 

`O _____ 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. 

`olu`olu. (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. 

`Ae . (eye)

No. 

`A`ole . (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 ia`u. (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 name of language [well]. 

`A`ole au `olelo [maika'i]. (AH-oh-lay ow OH-leh-lo [my-KAI-ee])

Do you speak Hawai'ian? 

`Olelo Hawai`i `oe? (OH-leh-lo ha-VY-ee OH-ey)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

`Olelo 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 maika`i. (PO my-KAI-ee)

I don't understand. 

`A`ole 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. 

Ha`alele ko`u ho`okahi. (HA-ah-lay-lay KO-oo ho-oh-KA-hee)

Don't touch me! 

`A`ole pā ko`u! (ah-OH-lay PA KO-oo)

I'll call the police. 

E hea māka`i ana au! (EY HAY-ah MA-ka-ee ah-na ow)

Police! 

Māka`i! (MA-ka-ee)

Stop! Thief! 

Ho`opau! `Aihue! (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. 

`Eke ko`u lilo au. (EY-kay KO-oo LEE-lo ow)

I lost my wallet. 

`Eke kālā ko`u lilo au. (EY-kay KA-LA KO-oo LEE-lo ow)

I'm sick. 

O ma`i au. (oh MA-ee ow)

I'm injured. 

O `ālina 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 ho`ohana au? (KOU kay-lay-PO-na HO-oh-HA-na ow)

Numbers

0 

`Ole (OH-lay)

1 

`Ekahi (ey-KA-hee)

2 

`Elua (ey-LOO-ah)

3 

`Ekolu (ey-KOH-loo)

4 

`Ehā (ey-HAH)

5 

`Elima (ey-LEE-ma)

6 

`Eono (ey-OH-no)

7 

`Ehiku (ey-HEE-koo)

8 

`Ewalu (ey-VAH-loo)

9 

`Eiwa (ey-EE-vah)

10 

`Umi (OO-mee)

11 

`Umi kūmākahi (OO-mee KOO-ma-KA-hee)

12 

`Umi kūmālua (OO-mee KOO-ma-LOO-ah)

13 

`Umi kūmākolu (OO-mee KOO-ma-KOH-loo)

14 

`Umi kūmāhā (OO-mee KOO-ma-HAH)

15 

`Umi kūmālima (OO-mee KOO-ma-LEE-ma)

16 

`Umi kūmāono (OO-mee KOO-ma-OH-no)

17 

`Umi kūmāhiku (OO-mee KOO-ma-HEE-koo)

18 

`Umi kūmāwalu (OO-mee KOO-ma-VAH-loo)

19 

`Umi 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 

`Elua haneli (ey-LOO-ah ha-NAY-lee)

300 

`Ekolu haneli (ey-KOH-loo ha-NAY-lee)

500 

`Elima haneli (ey-LEE-ma ha-NAY-lee)

1000 

Kaukani (kow-KAH-nee)

2000 

`Elua 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 

`auinalā (ow-EE-na-LA)

night 

pō (PO)

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

hola `ekahi AM (HO-la ey-KA-hee AH-moo)

two o'clock AM 

hola `elua 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 

`apōpō (ah-PO-po)

this week 

kēia pule (KAY-ee-ah POO-lay)

last week 

mua pule (MOO-ah POO-lay)

next week 

a`e pule (AH-ey POO-lay)

Monday 

Po`akahi (po-ah-KA-hee)

Tuesday 

Po`alua (po-ah-LOO-ah)

Wednesday 

Po`akolu (po-ah-KOH-loo)

Thursday 

Po`ahā (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 

`Aukake (ow-KA-kay)

September 

Kepakemapa (kay-pah-kay-MA-pa)

October 

`Okakopa (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

Red 

`Ula`ula (OO-la-OO-la)

Orange 

`Alani (ah-LA-nee)

Yellow 

Melemele (MAY-lay-MAY-lay)

Green 

`ō`ma`oma`o (OH-ma-oh-ma-oh)

Blue 

Polū (po-LOO)

Purple 

Poni (PO-nee)

Pink 

`Ākala (AH-ka-la)

Black 

`Ele`Ele (EH-lay-EH-lay)

White 

Ke`oke`o (KAY-oh-KAY-oh)

Grey 

`Āhinahina (AH-hee-na-hee-na)

Brown 

Maku`e/Palaunu (ma-KOO-ey/pa-LA-oo-noo)

Transportation

car 

ka`a (KA-ah)

bus 

ka`a `ōhua (KA-ah OH-hoo-ah)

train 

ka`aahi (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 kū`ai o kikiki i ________? (KOO-moo KOO-eye o kee-KEE-kee i ________?)

One ticket to ________, please. 

`Ekahi kikiki i ________, `olu`olu. (ey-KA-hee kee-KEE-kee ee ________, OH-loo-OH-loo)

Where does this train/bus go? 

`Auhea ka`a `ōhua/ka`aahi nō hele ai? (ow-HAY-ah KA-ah OH-hoo-ah/ka-AH-hee NO HAY-lay eye)

Directions

Where is ________? 

`Auhea ________? (ow-HAY-ah)

Show me on the map. 

Hō`ike ko`u i palapala`āina. (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 `ākau (HOO-lee AH-kow)

straight ahead 

i mua pololei (ee MOO-ah po-lo-LAY)

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! 

Ka`a `ōhua! (KA-ah OH-hoo-ah)

Take me to _________ please. 

Lawe a`u i _________ `olu`olu. (LA-vay ah-oo ee _________ OH-loo-OH-loo)

How much does it cost to go _________? 

Kumu kū`ai i hele i _________? (KOO-moo KOO-eye ee HAY-lay ee _________?)

Leave me there, please. 

Ho`i a`u laila, `olu`olu. (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 kū`ai 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? 

hāli`i 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 ________. 

Ho`āla a`u ________. (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? 

`Āpono `Amelika/Kanaka/`Aukekulelia 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? 

`Āpono Pelekane paona? (AH-po-no pay-lay-KA-nay pa-OH-na)

Do you accept Euros? 

`Āpono `Eulopa kālā? (AH-po-no EH-oo-LO-pa KA-la)

Do you accept credit cards? 

`Āpono hō`ai`ē kāleka? (AH-po-no HO-eye-EY KA-lay-ka)

Can you change money? 

`Oe loli kālā? (OH-ey LO-lee KA-la)

Where is an ATM (Automated Teller Machine)? 

`Auhea mīkini panakō? (ow-HAY-ah MEE-kee-nee pa-na-KOH)

Eating

Table, please. 

Pākaukau, `olu`olu. (PA-kow-kow, OH-loo-OH-loo)

Menu, please. 

Papa kuhikuhi mea `ai, `olu`olu. (PA-pa KOO-hee-KOO-hee MAY-ah EYE, OH-loo-OH-loo)

I'm vegetarian. 

O mea ulu `ai wale nō au. (oh MAY-ah OO-loo eye VA-lay NO ow)

breakfast 

`aina kakahiaka. (EYE-na ka-ka-hee-AH-ka)

lunch 

`aina awakea. (EYE-na ah-vah-KAY-ah)

dinner 

`aina ahiahi (EYE-na AH-hee-AH-hee)

chicken 

moa (MO-ah)

beef 

pipi (PEE-pee)

fish 

i`a (EE-ah)

ham 

pua`a hame (poo-AH-ah HA-may)

sausage 

na`aukake (NA-ow-KA-kay)

cheese 

waiūpa`a (vy-OO-pa-ah)

eggs 

hua (HOO-ah)

salad 

lau `ai (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 ho`opāpa`a (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 

pa`akai (pa-ah-KY)

black pepper 

pepa (PAY-pah)

butter 

waiūpaka (vy-OO-pa-ka)

Waiter! 

Kuene! (koo-AY-nay)

Check, please. 

Pila kīko`o, `olu`olu. (PEE-la KEE-ko-oh, OH-loo-OH-loo)

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority