You won't find too many U.S. destinations more beautiful than Hawaii, which is known for its lush mountains, active volcanoes, and relaxing beaches. But beyond just seeing the sights, one of the best ways to celebrate Hawaiian culture is to speak the language. By trying out a few of these phrases on your next trip, you can become a part of the growing movement to revitalize this endangered language. Yes, that's right: At one point, Hawaiian was on the verge of vanishing. Show
Even though it's now one of the official languages in the state, Hawaiian was officially banned in schools after the kingdom was overthrown in the late 1800s. As a result, the number of speakers dramatically declined. But in the last 50 years, a Hawaiian language renaissance has swept the state and is slowly bringing back the traditional tongue. Not everyone you encounter on your vacation will speak the language, but those that do might be pleasantly surprised that you're giving Hawaiian a go. So before you start packing your bags, commit a handful of these useful Hawaiian words and phrases to memory. 7 Destinations in Hawaii Where the Locals Love to Go  Basic Hawaiian WordsAloha (and its variations) Even though you'll often hear aloha used as a greeting, it's also a way of life. You can use aloha to send out kindness, positive intentions, and respect to others. On your trip, you can get familiar with aloha by using it at four different times of the day. Aloha kakahiaka: Pronounced a-lo-ha kah-kah-hee-yah-kah Use this phrase to say good morning. Aloha awakea: Pronounced a-loh-ha av-ah-kay-ah You should use this variation of aloha when it's late morning. It roughly translates to "good noontime." Aloha 'auinalā: Pronounced a-loh-ha ah-wee-na-lah Try this out when you want to say good afternoon. Aloha ahiahi: Pronounced a-loh-ha a-hee-yah-hee This one means good evening. Watch your pronunciation because "ahi" means tuna. You can prevent yourself the embarrassment of saying "tuna tuna" by using something called a "y-glide" in the middle of the word. Instead of saying "a-hee a-hee," pronounce it like "a-hee-yah-hee." Lū'au: Pronounced loo-ah-oo Hopefully, you're going to experience the wonder of a lū'au on your trip. This event is so much more than a party that includes hula dancing. The word lū'au itself actually refers to leaves of the taro plant, which has great significance in the Hawaiian culture. You're bound to find taro in more than a few dishes during this celebration. Mahalo: Pronounced mah-hah-loh Mahalo means thank you. It appears on a lot of trash can doors, so a lot of tourists think it means garbage. Not so! Get even more specific with your mahalo by adding a few extra words. Mahalo nui (pronounced mah-hah-loh noo-ee) means "thank you very much." And if you really appreciate something, you can say mahalo nui loa (pronounced mah-hah-loh noo-ee loh-wah), which means "thank you so very much." Wahine: Pronounced vah-hee-neh Looking for the women's bathroom? This word will be on the door. Kāne: Pronounced kah-neh This word will appear on the men's bathroom door. Common Hawaiian Phrases'A'ole pilikia: Pronounced ah-oh-leh pee-lee-kee-yah Use this phrase if someone thanks you. It means "you're welcome." A 'o ia!: Pronounced ah-oy-yah Cheer on your best friend if he or she gets up to do the hula or exclaim this when someone finally catches a wave during a surf lesson. It's akin to saying "there you have it!" Hui!: Pronounced hoo-wee There's a polite way of saying "hey you," and this is it. E kala mai: Pronounced eh kah-lah mah-yee Spill your drink or bump into someone in a crowd? You can use this phrase to apologize or say excuse me. Useful Hawaiian Sayings for TravelersMa uka: Pronounced mah-oo-kah People use ma uka as a directional term meaning "upland." You might hear someone say something like, "We'll be ma uka today doing the zipline." Ma kai: Pronounced mah-kie-yee Ma kai is the opposite of ma uka, and it means "seaward." Invite people to grab a drink with you "at the boathouse ma kai" during your trip. The Grom Life is an independent publisher. You will not find paid product promotions or sponsored content on this site. You will find affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Aloha & Mahalo: These words actually mean a lot more than Google translate can convey, and it’s important to understand their meanings if you want to better acquaint yourself with Hawaiian culture. In Hawaiian, Aloha means “hello” and “goodbye” while Mahalo means “thank you” in English. But that’s really just the cliff notes and language, even the Hawaiian language which only contains 12 letters, is never that simple. Table of Contents
What Does Aloha Mean?Hawaiian is a beautiful language. It has likely existed for around 1,500 years and was born from a mixture of other Polynesian cultures back when the islands were first settled. English speakers like to quote “Aloha” as being unique in that it means both goodbye and hello, as if suggesting some kind of symbiosis between the two-goodbye is never really goodbye, etc., It’s a beautiful sentiment, but the Hawaiian language is not alone in this, far from it. The French say “Salut” and the Italians “Ciao”. Many languages have words that take a variation of “with health” or “nice to meet you” and use them to mean both goodbye and hello. Depending on your dialect, you may even be able to do it with English. We typically say, “good morning” when we meet someone and “good evening” when we depart, but the two can be used for both greetings and fairwells, and if you’re in Australia, you can use “Good Day!” to cover pretty much all bases. What is more unique about this Hawaiian word is that it can also be used in other contexts, and not just a hello or goodbye. What Is The True Meaning Of Aloha?Aloha is often used to mean “love” and “peace” and is one of the most important words in the Hawaiian language. It has been said that aloha is a way of life, which is where the “aloha spirit” comes into play. In truth, it’s a word that’s hard to translate as a native Hawaiian would understand it and it’s something that you just have to try and experience yourself. Start by thinking of it as a translation of “hello”, “goodbye”, “respect”, and “love”, and then build from there. Is It OK To Say Aloha?Yes, it is OK to say aloha when you are in Hawaii. It is not considered rude or disrespectful. If someone greets you with an aloha or departs from you with an aloha, free free to give one back. Embrace the aloha spirit. Is “Aloha” Hello or Goodbye?As stated earlier, “aloha” is both a greeting when meeting someone and the equivalent of a goodbye. What Does mahalo Mean In Hawaiian?Mahalo is a little easier to translate and more clearly defined than Aloha. Mahalo is most often used these days in the hospitality industry between locals and tourist. It’s a simple word that helps connect mainlanders and islanders. Mahalo is often used as a way to say, “thank you”, although it seems to have come to the Hawaiian language rather late, with some claims suggesting that they didn’t have a word to show their gratitude, even though they were considered to be a very gracious people. Today, none of that really matters, as the word mahalo is definitely used to show appreciation and respect, like saying “thank you” or “your help is much appreciated”, etc., How Do You Pronounce MahaloYou pronounce Mahalo as “muh-haa-low.” How Do You Respond To Mahalo?The most common response in English to Mahalo is “You’re welcome.” What Does Mahalo Nui Loa Mean?“Mahalo Nui Loa” in Hawaiian translates to “Thank you very much” in English. Similar to Mahalo, you can respond to Mahalo Nui Loa with “You’re welcome”. You prounounce it “muh-haa-low noo-ee low-uh” More Hawaiian Words & About The Hawaiian LanguageHow Do You Say Beautiful In Hawaiian?The standard translation of beautiful in Hawaiian is “nani”. It is pronounced “nah-knee”. How Many Letters Are In The Hawaiian Alphabet?There are only 12 letters, 7 consonants and 5 vowels, in the Hawaiian alphabet. They are: A, E, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, U, and W. There is a 13th letter, though you may not be a letter that is familiar to you. It is the ʻokina that looks like an apostrophe and is used in many Hawaiian words such as Hawai’i. Kevin Whitton, the author of Moon Hawaii, goes into okina in depth here. Other Useful Hawaiian WordsNow that you understand two important words, it’s time to look at a few other useful words before you head to Hawaii and converse with the locals: Ono = Delicious Ohana = Loved Ones Honu = Green Sea Turtle Kokua = Assistance/Help Kakou = Everybody Haole = Foreigner Pono = Righteousness (like “aloha”, it’s a word that can have many meanings and is hard to translate into English) Kamaʻāina = Child of the Land Wahine = a woman, wife Kane = a man, husband What language do they speak in Hawaii?The state of Hawaii has two official language: Hawaiian and English. English is widely spoken on the Hawaiian Islands. Visitors who speak English will have an easy time getting around the islands. Summary: Learning The Hawaiian LanguageLearning words and phrases for your trip to Hawaii is a small way to step into the Hawaiian culture and show respect to the locals who live on and work on the islands. Is it okay to say mahalo?3. Mahalo. Mahalo is a phrase you're likely to hear a lot, and should use too, during your stay. It means “thank you!” Say it to waiting staff and people who help you out, to get one of those warm Hawaiian smiles.
What does it mean when someone says Mahalo?Mahalo (Mahalo Nui Loa)
Mahalo means Thank you. Mahalo nui loa means Thank you very much.
Can Mahalo used like aloha?Mahalo is a famous Hawaiian word which means “thank you”, or to express gratitude. This is one of the common greetings, rather like “aloha”, used in everyday life in the Hawaiian culture.
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What is the appropriate response to Mahalo?
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