Essential Hawaiian Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Hawaiian words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... Aloha. Hello. A hui hou. Goodbye. ‘Ōlelo haole ‘oe? Do you speak English? ‘A‘ole maopopo ia‘u. I don't understand. He li‘ili‘i. A little. ‘Ae. ‘A‘ole. Yes. No. ‘Ehia kālā kēia kumu kū‘ai? How much is it? Pipi‘i loa. Hiki nō. Too expensive. OK. E ‘olu‘olu e ... Please. Mahalo (nui loa). Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	‘O wai kou inoa? What is your name? ‘O ... ko‘u inoa. My name is ... Pehea ‘oe? How are you? Maika‘i. A ‘o ‘oe? Fine. And you? Aia i hea ...? Where is ...? Aia i hea ka lua? Kāne/Wahine Where is the toilet? Men/Women E kala mai ia‘u. Sorry. Excuse me. ‘A‘ole pilikia. No problem. Makemake au i ... I want ... ‘A‘ole au makemake i ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

No hea mai ‘oe? Where are you from? No ‘Aukekulelia mai au. I am from Australia. Pila kīko‘o, ke ‘olu‘olu ‘oe. The bill, please. Ua nalowale au. I am lost. Uoki! E kali! Stop! Wait! Ma‘ane‘i, malaila, ma‘ō.. Here, there, over there. Ka‘a ‘ōhua. Hōkele. Kahua ho‘olulu mokulele. Kūna ka‘a ‘ōhua. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. Makemake au i ... I like ... ‘A‘ole au makemake i ... I don't like ... ‘ekahi, ‘elua, ‘ekolu, ‘eha, ‘elima. one, two, three, four, five. ‘ono, ‘hiku, ‘ewalu, ‘iwa, ‘umi. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: ‘Amelika - America Kanakā - Canada Pelekane - England ‘Ilelani - Ireland Nukilani - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

‘Okole maluna! Cheers! maika‘i / ‘ino good / bad nui / iki big / small kokoke / mamao near / far hapa iki / hapa nui less / more kekahi / lawa another / enough O mea ulu ‘ai wale nō au. I am vegetarian. ‘A‘ole au ‘ai i ka ‘i‘o. ‘A‘ohe o‘u ‘ai i ka ‘i‘o. I don't eat meat. ... ka moa. ... chicken. ... ka i‘a. ... fish. Ua loa'a wau i ka pāheu i ke kukui haole. I am allergic to to nuts. ... ka pīneki. ... to peanuts. ... ka i‘a. ... fish. ... ka mea ‘ai o ke kai. ... seafood. ... ka hua moa. ... eggs.