KITV 4 News anchor Paula Akana brought the Hawaiian Word of the Day, brought to you by Kamehameha Schools on KITV4 News for several years. Words are presented by students from Kamehameha Schools and various Hawaiian charter schools to help viewers develop a better understanding of Hawaiian language and culture.

A | B | E | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | U | W

A
'ae -- is the Hawaiian word for "yes." "'Ae, hiki ia'u ke hana!" "Yes, I can do it!"
'aha mele -- concert. "E hele ana 'oe i ka 'aha mele?" Are you going to the concert?
'a'ole -- is the Hawaiian word for "no," "not," or "none." 'A'ole loa means "no way!"
A'u -- is the word for swordfish, and, marlin. We often see it spelled in the markets as "au". Used correctly it is a'u.
  ·  'ai -- to eat
  ·  'aka'aka -- to laugh
'awa -- the Hawaiian word for kawa; a drink made by pounding the root of the 'awa plant.
Ala -- It's meanings include path, road, or trail as in Ke•ala•ke•kua (path of the gods) and Ala•wai (fresh water trail)
ala -- to awaken, to rise up. "E ala mai." Awaken, arise.
  ·  Ala 'Ala -- Street/Path or sweet fragrance
  ·  alakea -- white road
  ·  Ala Wai -- water way, canal in Waikiki
Aloha -- the most common Hawaiian word you will hear. It has many meanings but most often refers to love, compassion, and affection.
ali'i -- is a very common Hawaiian word and it means "chief" or "chiefess."
  ·  anuanu -- cold
ānuenue -- rainbow; we see many of them in Hawai`i
  ·  Ao -- It's meanings include clouds and sky as in Ao•lele (flying clouds) and Ao•lani (heavenly cloud)
  ·  'a'ole pilikia -- no problem
  ·  Au -- It's meanings include an era or current as in Ke•au•hou (the new era) and Ke•au•kaha (the passing current)
  ·  'au'au --to bathe
Awa -- It's meanings include harbor, cove, or channel as in Ke•awa•iki (the small channel) and Ke•awa•kapu the (forbidden harbor)

B

  ·  Beretania -- Britain

E

  ·  e kala mai ia'u -- excuse me
'Ele -- It's meanings include dark or black as in 'Ele•'ele (black) and One•'ele (black sand)
  ·  E Malama Pono -- To take care
  ·  ea -- sovereignty or life
'eleu -- lively or active "'Eleu mai!" Look alive!
  ·  'eke -- bag
'Ewa -- is a well-known place name throughout Hawai'i. It refers to the district West of Honolulu and we use it as a common directional, as in "the 'Ewa bound lanes." 'Ewa means "crooked."

H

  ·  hA -- breath, life, to breathe, exhale.
  ·  Ha'aha'a -- Humble
  ·  ha'ahea -- proud, to cherish with pride.
  ·  ha'awi -- to give
  ·  hai -- to speak, to break
  ·  hakakà -- to fight
  ·  hakioawa -- breaking of the harbor
  ·  Halakahiki -- Pineapple
  ·  Halawa -- Curve; valley on Oahu
hale -- is a common Hawaiian word and it means "house" or "building." "E hele mai i ka hale" means "come over to the house!"
Haleakala -- line over last a
  ·  Haleakalā -- Haleakalā is Māui's highest peak and one of the tallest mountains in Hawai'i. Haleakalā means "house of the sun" and was home to the god Māui's grandmother.
  ·  Haleiwa -- House of the 'iwa bird; town on Oahu's north shore
  ·  Hale ho'ike'ike -- Museum
  ·  Hale ho'ike'ike holoholona -- Zoo
  ·  hale ho'okolokolo -- courthouse
  ·  Hale ku'ai -- Store
  ·  hale maka'i -- police station
  ·  Halemaumau -- fern house (fire pit of Pele), oahu roadway
hale pule -- "house of prayer" or church; the "Hale Pule `o Kawaiaha`o" is "Kawaiaha`o Church."
  ·  háliimaile -- maile vines strewn
hale waihona puke -- library. "E hele i ka hale waihona puke." Go to the library.
Hāmau -- be quiet
hana
Hana -- Its meanings include bay or valley when used in place names such as Hana•pēpē (crushed bay) and Hana•leicrescent (shaped bay)
Hana -- has many meanings like "work," "labor," "activity," or "action." Pau hana is the shortcut way of saying "pau ka hana" "the work is done."
hānai -- has two very important meanings: to feed or raise and to foster or adopt
Hanalei -- is a beautiful district and large bay on the North side of Kaua'i. Hanalei means "crescent bay."
  ·  Hanapepe -- To bruise or to crush; area on Kauai
  ·  hAnau -- to give birth.
  ·  Hanauma -- Curved Bay
  ·  hanohano -- glorious,magnificent,noble honored.
  ·  hapai hao -- to lift, as in weights
haumana -- is a word many of us have heard or use now and then. Haumana means student.
  ·  hea -- where
  ·  he aha ka mea hou -- what's new?
  ·  He'eia -- Heavenly shadow, area on Oahu's Windward side
  ·  heenalu -- to surf
Heiau -- temple, shrine, or other pre-Christian place of worship
hele -- is a common Hawaiian word. It means "go," "move," or "walk." E hele kākou means "let's go!"
  ·  heleakala -- to snare by the sun
Hiamoe -- means sleep and when you "go to sleep," you "ho'i i ka hiamoe." Many of us are used to hearing moe moe. Give hiamoe a try.
hewa -- mistake. "No'u ka hewa." My mistake, my bad
  ·  hiki nó -- okay
  ·  Hilo: Hawaiian Word -- to twist or braid and it is the first night of the new moon and a town on the Big Island
  ·  himeni -- to sing
  ·  hinano -- male pandanus flower
  ·  hiwahiwa -- precious
  ·  hoalu -- depression or to slack
  ·  hó'ihi -- sacred, holy
  ·  Hoihoi: Hawaiian Word -- interesting and entertaining
  ·  holo -- to run
holoholo -- to ride or walk around for fun. "E holoholo kākou." Lets go holoholo!
  ·  honi -- to kiss or smell
  ·  ho'oilina -- heir, inheritance, legacy, heritage.
ho'okano -- arrogant, rude, or proud; definitely not a good trait!
  ·  ho'oku'i -- collision
  ·  ho'Ola -- to save, heal, cure.
  ·  ho'olohe -- to listen
  ·  ho'oma'ema'e -- to clean
ho'oma'ama'a -- to practice. "Pono 'oe e ho'oma'ama'a." You have to practice.
ho'omanawanui -- patience. "E ho'omanawanui mai." Be patient.
  ·  ho'opi'i -- to one
  ·  Ho'oponopono -- To put right, adjust, correct or rectify
  ·  ho'opuka -- to produce
  ·  Honoapiilani -- highway around Maui named after chief Piilani
  ·  honua -- land, earth, world.
hono -- is bay and you’ll hear or see it in a lot of place names such as Honolulu, Honolua, and Honokōhau
Ho'olaule'a -- means festival and it is a word used often throughout Hawai'i. Remember to put that last 'okina in there so you say it right: ho'olaule'a.
Honolulu -- Honolulu is a place name made up of two words "hono" which means "bay" and "lulu" which means "shelter, calm, or peaceful"; Honolulu means "sheltered bay"
hopenapule -- weekend. "I hopenapule maika'i." Have a nice weekend.

I

  ·  Iao -- Supreme cloud; area on Maui
  ·  ihi to peel
Ikaika -- Strong
  ·  Iki -- It's meanings include little or small as in Pu'u•iki (small hill) and Poho•iki (small depression)
  ·  I Mua -- to move forward, Oahu street
inoa -- "name" as in the question, "'O wai kou inoa?" What is your name?
  ·  inu -- to drink
  ·  loio -- judge
  ·  Iwilei -- A section of Honolulu
'ilihune -- poor. "E mālama i ka po'e 'ilihune." Care for the poor.

K

  ·  ka'a 'ōhua -- bus. "E kau ma luna o ke ka'a 'ōhua." Ride the bus.
  ·  ka'a maka'i -- police car
ka`a ohua   ·  kai -- ocean or sea. It is part of many place names like Hawai'i Kai, Kailua, and Kainaliu.
  ·  Kaena -- The heat; the north point area of Oahu
  ·  Kaha -- It's meanings include place and to pass by as in Kaha•lu'u (diving place) and Ke•au•kaha (the passing current)
  ·  kaha -- to grade
  ·  kàhea -- to call
  ·  Kahekili -- Maui chief, highway on Oahu, lightning
  ·  Kahi -- It's meanings include alone or single as in Lapa•kahi (single ridge) and Hana•kahi (single task)
  ·  Kahu -- Guardian
kaiaulu -- the winning
  ·  kaiāulu -- community. "E kōkua i kou kaiāulu." Help your community.
  ·  Kailua -- Two seas, Windward Oahu town
  ·  Kaimukì -- Ti oven, area on Oahu
  ·  kAko'o -- to uphold, support, favor, assist.
kakou – line over a
kākou -- "all of us" as long as there are at least 3 of us. "E pule kākou" means "Let us pray."
kala -- "to forgive," "pardon," or "let go." E kala mai means "forgive me" or "excuse me."
  ·  Kalakáua -- the day of war, monarch name: King David Kalakaua (there is a
  ·  kalaiwa -- to drive. "E kalaiwa pono." Drive safely.
  ·  Kalanianaole -- highway on Oahu, name of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole
  ·  kalaupapa -- the flat plain
  ·  kama'Aina -- native born, acquainted, familiar.
  ·  kama'áina -- native born
  ·  Kamehameha -- first king, royal family; the lonely one, highway name
  ·  Kapalama -- lama wood house for chiefs, street on Oahu
Kapolei
  ·  Kanalua -- Doubtful, undecided, reluctance
  ·  kanawai -- law
  ·  Kāne'ohe -- is a large town in the Windward district of O'ahu. Kāne'ohe is made up of two words: kāne, which means "man," and 'ohe which means "bamboo." Kāne'ohe means "bamboo man".
  ·  Kaonohi -- fragment of rainbow, Oahu road
Kapi'olani -- means the arching heavens. It is the name of a queen, a hospital, and a very long street here in Honolulu.
kaulana -- is the Hawaiian word for "famous." "Kaulana Nā Pua" is a well-known and beloved Hawaiian song that means "Famous Are The Flowers."
  ·  Kaunakakai -- Beach landing; town on Molokai
  ·  kauo -- to tow or drag
  ·  kaupalena to set a deadline
  ·  Kapolei -- is Hawai'i fastest growing community. It is named after one of Pele's sisters and means "beloved Kapo."
Kāpulu -- messy, sloppy
  ·  Kaukau -- Chant for the dead or stones used as a temporary altar
  ·  Kawaiahao -- water of Ha'o (famous chief), street name beginning on the grounds of Kawaiahao Church
Kea -- It's meanings include shiny or white as in Mauna•kea (white mountain) and Pūpū•kea (white shell)
Kane`ohe -- line over a
  ·  kea'au -- land section in the Puna district on the island of Hawaii
  ·  kealaíkahiki -- pathway to Tahiti
  ·  Keauhou -- the new current
  ·  keaukaha -- passing current
  ·  Keawa'ula -- A popular surfing spot often referred to as Yokohama Bay
  ·  Keeaumoku -- father in law and ally of Kamehameha ekahi, also a street in Honolulu
keia -- line over e
  ·  kēia -- is the Hawaiian word for "this." "'O kēia ka Hua'ōlelo Hawai'i o ka Lā." This is the Hawaiian Word of the Day.
  ·  Kekúanaó'a -- the standing projections
  ·  kéná -- that (near the speaker)
  ·  keópua -- cloud bank
  ·  ke 'olu'olu -- please
keiki -- child, youngster, offspring, or descendant; it can also refer to the offshoot of a plant.
  ·  Kihei -- Shawl or cape; area on Maui
  ·  Kilauea -- spewing, much spreading, name of Big Island volcano
  ·  kiloi -- to throw away
Kina'u -- is the name of a street and a freeway off-ramp here in Honolulu. Kina`u was the mother to many high-ranking ali`i and hänai mother to Princess Pauahi.
  ·  kipa -- to visit
  ·  kipahulu> -- to fetch from exhausted gardens
  ·  kipo'o to indent
  ·  kiwi -- television
Kō -- It's meanings include sugar and sugarcane as in Kō'•ele (dark sugarcane) and Pua•kō (sugarcane blossom)
Ko'olau -- is the name of our largest mountain range here on O`ahu. Ko`olau means windward.
  ·  koekou to strum
komo -- is a word you have probably heard before. Komo means "to enter" as in "E komo mai!"
  ·  Komo mai -- to welcome, street on Oahu
Kona -- is a word you hear often: Kona the place or as "Kona winds." Kona means "leeward" and Kona winds usually refer to southerly winds.
Kua -- It's meanings include back or ridge as in Kua•mo'o (the spine) and Kua•lono (mountain ridge)
  ·  kU'E -- to oppose, resist, protest.
kula -- most often means "school".
  ·  kulAiwi -- native land, homeland.
kuleana -- an important word in the Hawaiian language: it means "privilege" and also "responsibility".
  ·  Kulikuli -- means noisy or deaf. It is also a scolding to "keep quiet." A nicer way to ask for quiet is to say "hāmau".
  ·  kùkàkùkà -- to discuss
  ·  Ku ka paila -- A big pile
  ·  kukula -- to build; to construct
  ·  kupa -- native, citizen.
  ·  Kupono -- Honest, proper, appropriate
kupuna -- means "grandparent"

l lanakila

M

ma'a -- accustomed to or used to. "I am ma'a to waking up early."
maika`i
manawale`a
Manoa -- line over first a
Mauna
mele

N

noho
nupepa
nūhou -- "Ua lohe 'oe i ka nūhou." Have you heard the nūhou?

O

  ·  'o ia mau nó -- the same as usual
'olu'olu -- is such a nice Hawaiian word. It means "nice," "pleasant," "gracious," and "please." E 'olu'olu mai means, "Would you please."
  ·  ´Ohana -- family, relative, or to be related, whether it’s a small ´ohana or an extended one
  ·  'óiwi -- native or native son
  ·  ola -- life
  ·  Ola Kino Maika'i -- Good health
  ·  ´Ōlelo -- word, language, statement, to speak; Ōlelo Hawaiyi means "Hawaiian language"
  ·  Olelo No'eau -- Wise saying
One -- It's meanings include sand and beach as in One•kahakaha (drawing in sand) and Pu'•u•one (sand hill)
  ·  one hAnau -- birth sands.
'onilele -- aerobics. "'Onilele is good for your health."
  ·  'onipa'a -- steadfast, immovable.
  ·  ´ōpala -- rubbish, trash, or litter; "kini ōpala" is where ōpala belongs: in the trash can.
  ·  ´ōpio -- youth, youngster, and junior. Today, it commonly refers to a teenager.

P

pa`ina – line over a
pehea
plaiwa
pono
popeku
powawae
pule

U

  ·  Ua -- rain
  ·  ua -- to shout, to cry
'Ula -- It's meanings include red or scarlet as in Hau•'ula (red hau tree) and Ke•awa•'ula (the red harbor)
  ·  ulu -- to grow, increase, spread.
  ·  Ulupalakua -- Breadfruit ripening; area on Maui
'Ukulele -- means "jumping flea" and is the name of a uniquely Hawaiian instrument, developed here in Hawai'i, based on the Portuguese braginha.

W wai
Waikoloa
Waimanalo
Wai`anae