kaena

No koʻu ʻike i ka maikaʻi, koʻu mea nō, ia i ʻōlelo kaena ai.

As for my knowledge of beauty, that's something I brag about.

(transitive) to boast, brag of
(stative) to be boastful


halemākaʻi

Compound of hale (“building”) + mākaʻi (“police officer”).


kinai

Compare with Maori tinei, Rarotongan tinai and tīnai


ʻAlepania

Borrowed from English Albania, ultimately from Byzantine Greek Ἀλβανία (Albanía).

Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe#English


ʻAlepania

Albanian, a resident or native of Albania


ʻumeke

From Proto-Polynesian *kumete (“bowl, mortar”) (compare with Maori kumete, Tahitian ʻumete and Samoan 'umete)


ʻāhui

From Proto-Polynesian *kaa-pui (compare with Maori kāhui) from Proto-Polynesian from Proto-Oceanic *pui₁ (“bunch”) (compare with Maori hui (“flock, herd, congregation”) and Tahitian hui (“group”) plus Maori huihui (“group, assembly”) and Tahitian huihui (“collection”)). Doublet of hui and huihui.

fruit bunch or cluster (of bananas, pandanus keys, grapes)


aʻu kū

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *saku-layaʀ (“swordfish”) or Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *saku (“needlefish”)


ʻaʻa

(stative) to be bold, brave, adventurous


ʻaʻa

From Proto-Oceanic *kaka (“young coconut frond; coconut leaf sheath”) – compare with Maori kaka, Rarotongan kaka, Tahitian ʻaʻa, and Samoan ʻaʻa. For sense of cloth and bag, see also parallel in Malay kain meaning both “fabric, cloth” and “clothing”.

clothlike sheath on the bottom of a coconut leaf frond


ʻaʻa

alternative form of Maʻaʻa (“wind current in Lahaina”)


ʻAʻā

(astronomy) the primary, visible star of the Sirius binary system; Sirius A


Wai Momi

a deep water harbor in Oahu, Hawaii, United States, in the Pacific

(military) a naval base in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, United States: a US Navy base


kālualua

From kā- + lualua, a reduplication of lua (“hole, pit”).


ʻālualua

From ʻā- (simulative prefix) + lualua, a reduplication of lua (“hole”).

kālualua (alternative)
kālua (alternative)


ʻāʻā

Ua ʻāʻā ka leo.


ʻāʻā

From Proto-Oceanic *ka(a)kaa (“kind of parrot”). Compare Tahitian ʻaʻā, Maori kākā.


ʻaiāmanō

ʻai + -ā- + manō. Literally, “to eat like a shark”

(figuratively) to eat like a pig; to eat greedily


-ā-

ʻai (“to eat”) + -ā- + manō (“shark”) → ʻaiāmanō (“to eat like a shark”)


ʻaiāpuaʻa

ʻai + -ā- + puaʻa. Literally, “to eat like a pig”


hanuāpuaʻa

hanu + -ā- + puaʻa. Literally, “to breathe like a pig”


hikiāloa

hiki + -ā- + loa. Literally, “to reach a long way” or "having a long reach".


huliāmahi

huli + -ā- + mahi. Literally, “to turn like a strong (cock)”

lit

(figuratively) to cooperate, act in unanimity (in great numbers)

(stative, figuratively) strong as the sea


kuamoʻo

alternative form of iwi kuamoʻo (“backbone, genealogy”)

clamp used in making and repairing canoes


iwi kuamoʻo

By surface analysis, iwi (“bone”) + kuamoʻo (“backbone”), though compare Niuean ivitua (“backbone”), Tahitian ivi tua (“backbone”).

surf

holoholona iwi kuamoʻo

paukū iwi o ka iwi kuamoʻo


ʻanuʻu

sprain, strain (by false step); disjointed vertebra

(historical) tower found in a heiau enclosed with tapa cloth; oracle tower

(music) interval between two notes on a musical staff

ʻanuʻu kumu

ʻanuʻu loa

ʻanuʻu waena


ʻanuʻu

(music) to go up an interval on a musical staff

(intransitive) to trip, sprain
(figuratively) to jar


-kumamā-

kanakolu (“thirty”) → kanakolukumamākahi (“thirty one”)

(formal) Nonproductive numerical infix needed to combine the tens and ones places; roughly meaning plus.


-kūmā-

From Proto-Polynesian *tumaqa (additive numeral ligative). Cognate with Rennellese tumaʻa.

inh

kanakolu (“thirty”) → kanakolukūmākahi (“thirty one”)


loaʻa

From Proto-Polynesian *rauka (compare with Maori roaka (“abundant”) plus Tahitian roaʻa and noaʻa) from Proto-Polynesian *lawa-ka thus doublet of lawa (“enough, sufficient”) with overlap of doublet of loa (“very, excessive”).


ʻahu

From Proto-Oceanic *kafu (“to cover, to put on clothing”) (compare with Maori kahu, Samoan ʻafu, Tongan kafu), from Proto-Oceanic *kaput (“to wrap, to cover”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaput (“to tie or clasp together”).


puʻu

From Proto-Polynesian *puku₁ (compare with Maori puku (“tummy”) and Tahitian puʻu (“button, knob”)), from Proto-Oceanic *buku from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bukuh (compare with Malay buku and Tagalog bukó both “node, knot, joint”). Also doublet of ʻupu via Proto-Polynesian *kupu (“section”) metathesis of Proto-Oceanic *puku from same Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root.

any geological protuberance like hill, mound

any physical protuberance like lump, pimple


ʻupu

From Proto-Polynesian *kupu (“node”) (compare with Maori kupu and Samoan ʻupu), from Proto-Oceanic *puku by metathesis, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bukuh (compare with Malay buku and Tagalog bukó both “node, knot, joint”). Senses related to logic evolved from a lost early sense of “word, segments of speech” by metaphorical comparison with culms of bamboo (as is present meaning of Samoan ʻupu and Maori kupu) before broadening.


maneʻo

From Proto-Polynesian *maŋeho (compare with Maori mangeo and Tahitian maʻeo) from Proto-Oceanic *maŋeso. See also Malay gatal for similar semantic connections in sense of arousal.


Kaperenauma

Capernaum (a biblical town in Palestine)


Heberona

Hebron (a city in the West Bank, Palestine)


Galilaia

Galilee (a mountainous geographic region in northern Israel)


Betelehema

Bethlehem (a city in the West Bank, Palestine)


Ieriko

Jericho (a city in the West Bank, Palestine)


Kai Make

From kai (“sea”) + make (“die”). Calque of English Dead Sea.

Dead Sea (a lake in the Middle East in Palestine and Jordan, noted for high salinity and for its banks being the lowest land-based elevation on Earth)


Palekekine

Palestine (a country in Western Asia, in the Middle East)


ʻupena

From Proto-Oceanic *kupeŋa (compare with Tahitian ʻupeʻa, Maori kupenga, Samoan ʻupega).


ʻowau

(onomatopoeia) meow, sound made by a cat


mokulele

Compound of moku (“large ship”) + lele (“to fly”). Compare with Maori wakarere and Malay kapal terbang for similar constructions.


lepo uhi

Compound of lepo (“soil, dirt”) + uhi (“covering”).


ʻahamele

Compound of ʻaha (“meeting, congregation”) + mele (“song”)

compound

E haawi ana na Haumana i puka mua o Kamehameha i kekahi Ahamele nui ma ka Hale Keaka o na Iapana...

1920 December 16, “He Ahamele Nui”, in Ka Hoku O Hawaii, page 2:

The students who previously graduated from Kamehameha are putting on a great Concert at the Japanese Theater...


ʻahamele

From ʻaha (“needlefish”) + mele (“yellow”).


hoʻokani

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kani (“cry”). Compare Maori whakatangi.


pukaball

(countable) The ball used in the sport of pickleball.


ʻaoʻao

From Proto-Polynesian *kao-kao (“rib, flank”) (compare with Tahitian ʻaoʻao, Maori kaokao, Samoan ʻaoʻao and Tongan kaokao).


kuʻi

From Proto-Polynesian *tuki (compare with Maori tuki, Tongan tuki) from Proto-Austronesian *tuqtuq ultimately onomatopoeic.


ʻumiʻumi

From Proto-Polynesian *kumikumi (“beard”) (compare with Maori kumikumi (“beard, moustache, whiskers”), Tongan kumukumu (“chin”)) from Proto-Oceanic *kumi (compare with Fijian kumi (“beard, chin”)) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kumis (compare with Malay kumis (“moustache”)).


hoʻāla

From a contraction of hoʻo- + ala. Compare hoʻoala.

hoʻāla i ke kumuhana

hoʻāla hou

(transitive, of a computer disk) to format, initialise


hoʻāla

Ā na lākou nohoʻi kēia hoʻāla iaʻu.


wānana

From Proto-Polynesian *fanaŋa (“story for entertainment, short repetitive chant”) – compare with Rapa Nui vānanga (“language”), Maori wānanga (“knowledge”), Tahitian vānaʻa (“knowledge”) and vanaʻa (“lore, story”). Doublet of wālana.


wānana

to prophesize, to foretell, to foresight


hiʻuhiʻu

From Proto-Polynesian *sikusiku (“projecting ends”) (compare with Maori hikuhiku (“eaves, entourage”) and kihukihu (“fringes”)) reduplication of *siku (“end, tail”) (compare with Tahitian hiʻu, Maori hiku, Tongan hiku all “fish tail”) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *siku (“elbow”) – also reanalyzed as reduplication of hiʻu, see there for more details

braid or plait end, loose ends of a woven mat or lei


lahilahi

From Proto-Polynesian *lafilafi (compare with Maori rahirahi (“thin”)) reduplicating *lafi (“paper mulbery cloth”).


neʻe

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *neke (“to be carried by water, to float, to drift”) (compare with Maori neke (“to shift, to move”)) Doublet of neʻeneʻe.


waʻu

Related to Maori waku and Tahitian vaʻu.


waʻu

scraper or any shell used for this purpose


pālala

From Proto-Central Pacific *paa-rara (“to toast, to expose to direct heat” – compare with Maori pārara “to bask in the sun” and Tahitian pārara “to roast meats, to soften banana leaves over an open flame”) related to Proto-Polynesian *rara, from Proto-Oceanic *raraŋ (compare with Fijian rara (“to warm up in front of a fire”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *daŋdaŋ (compare with Malay dandang “boiler”, Tagalog dangdang and darang (“to roast on hot coals”). Doublet of lala.


ʻinamona

Compound of ʻīnaʻi (“garnish”) + momona (“fatty, oily”)

com+

a special condiment made from crushed, roasted candlenut mixed with salt.


ʻīnaʻi

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *kiinaki (compare with Maori kīnaki, Tahitian ʻīnaʻi, Samoan ʻinaʻi) affixing *kina₃ (see Tongan kina).


hoʻouahi

From hoʻo- + uahi (“smoke”) – compare with Maori whakaauahi related to whakaauau derived from Proto-Polynesian *faka-qasu (compare with Tongan fakaʻahu and Samoan fāʻasu), from Proto-Oceanic *paka-qasu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paka-qasu (compare with Cebuano paaso, Tagalog paasuhan) affixed of *qasu (compare with Cebuano aso, Tagalog aso)


kauhuhu

From Proto-Oceanic *taqo-fufu (compare with Maori tāhuhu, Tongan toʻufufu) affixing *fufu from Proto-Oceanic *pupuŋan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bubuŋ (“ridge of roof, mountain” – compare with Malay bumbung, Tagalog bubóng, Ilocano bobóng all “roof”).


ʻO Wikipikia

Borrowed from English Wikipedia, from wiki + -pedia; ultimately from Hawaiian wikiwiki.


maʻalili

From Proto-Polynesian *makalili (compare with Maori makariri, Tahitian maʻariri, Samoan maʻalili) from Proto-Oceanic *makaridriŋ affixing *ridriŋ from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *diŋin (compare with Malay dingin).

to be calm, to be appeased, to be abated


maiʻao

Contraction of Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *mata-qi-kao lit. 'point of growth' (compare with Maori maihao “finger”) also related to Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *mati-kao. See also ʻao “shoot, sprout”.


maʻawe

Inherited from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *makawe (“hair, strand of hair” – compare with Maori makawe and Samoan maʻave). Likely related to ʻawe “tentacle”.
Sense of trace or path can be compared to parallel semantic evolution of English line which also means “cord, string”.


pōʻai

From Proto-Polynesian *pookai (compare with Maori pokai and Tahitian pōʻai)


keʻa

From Proto-Polynesian *teka₃ (compare with Maori teka “rung of a ladder”, Tahitian teʻa “crossbeam, awning support”), likely from metathesis of Proto-Oceanic *katiʀ “(small) outrigger canoe or canoe hull” thus ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *katiʀ (compare with Malay katir and Tagalog katig)
For sense of cross, compare also connection of Maori rīpeka with peka “tree branch” (itself a cognate of Hawaiian peʻa) and kaupeka “rung of a ladder”.

horizontal boom connecting two hulls or outriggers of a waʻa.


keʻa

From Proto-Oceanic *tibʷaŋ (compare with Maori teka, Tahitian teʻa)


laholio

Compound of laho (“testicle”) + lio (“horse”) describing its toughness.

com+

Hevea brasiliensis
Hevea brasiliensis#Translingual

rubber, flexible and pliable material made from coagulating natural latex of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).


lei o manō

→ English: leiomano

lei (“lei, a flower garland”) + o + manō (“a shark”), literally meaning "lei of the shark".

af

A paddle-like club with shark teeth set in it.


kāʻahi

From kaʻa ahi compound of kaʻa (“[any] vehicle”) + ahi (“fire”) – compare with Chinese 火車 /火车 (huǒchē) and Malay kereta api.

O Lanakila ke kāʻahi aliʻi, nana lawe mai kahu aupuni...

Lanakila was the royal train that took the crown princess along...


loʻi

From Proto-Polynesian *loki (“enclosed area”), from Proto-Oceanic *logi (“partitioned area”). Cognate with Tahitian roʻi “bed”, Tongan loki and Samoan loʻi “room”


ʻōkuhe

Eleotris sandwicensis, a fish in the family Eleotridae


puhi hāpala

Gymnothorax pictus, an eel in the family Muraenidae


puhi ao

Enchelycore pardalis, an eel in the family Muraenidae


ʻopihi

Hawaiian: pihi

Ulimately from Proto-Polynesian *pisi₂. Sense of button a native innovation attested in Archibald Campbell's 1809 wordlist (as opeehii)


kūkaenalo

Compound of kūkae (“excrement”) + nalo (“bee”); attested in Archibald Campbell's 1809 wordlist as tootai narro. Compare with Maori ware for similar semantic broadening.


kūkaenalo

Compound of kūkae (“excrement”) + nalo (“fly”) – compare to Malay tahi lalat


pūnāwelewele

Cognate of Maori pūngāwerewere, Tahitian pūʻāverevere “cobweb” and Samoan ʻapogāleveleve from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *puŋa-a-leveleve metathesizing Proto-Polynesian *puŋa-a-welewele related to *ka-lewelewe (compare with Tongan kaleveleve) affixing *lewelewe possibly a cognate of *lawalawa ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lawaq (compare with Malay labah-labah and Cebuano lawa).


kokuli

From Proto-Polynesian *taqe-tuli (compare with Maori tāturi, Rarotongan tāturi, Tahitian tāturi) combining *taqe + *tuli corresponding to kae kuli “deafening excrement” (compare with Maori taeturi, Tongan teʻetuli) – see also nouns like kūkaenalo “beeswax” (lit. “bee excrement”) and kūkaehao “rust” (lit. “iron muck/excrement”)


anamanaʻo

From ana (“to measure”) + manaʻo (“thought”).


hōkeo

bottle gourd (used to hold clothing, gear, etc.)


ʻikepili

From ʻike (“knowledge, information”) + pili (“cling, stick; associate with”).


haumia

From hau- (“dirty, unpleasant”) + -mia (passive/impersonal suffix).


nīnauele

From nīnau (“ask”) + -ele, variant of -iele, a pejorative suffix.

(rare) alternative form of nīele (“to pester with questions”)


papa huaʻōlelo

From papa (“list”) + huaʻōlelo (“word”).


hoʻohelehele

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + helehele, reduplication of hele (“to walk”).


ʻōpakapaka

From ʻō- + pakapaka, reduplication of paka (“crimson jobfish”).

crimson jobfish (Pristipomoides filamentosus)

lavender jobfish (Pristipomoides sieboldii)


Haʻikū

→ English: Haiku

Haiku (a village in the census-designated place of Haiku-Pauwela, Hawaii, United States)


Paʻuwela

→ English: Pauwela

[ˌpɐ.ʔuˈʋɛ.lə]

Pauwela (a village in the census-designated place of Haiku-Pauwela, Hawaii, United States)


hoʻoulu

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + ulu (“grow”).


hoʻoulu

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + ulu (“possessed”).


mea hoʻomomona lepo

From mea (“thing”) + hoʻomomona (“fertilize”) + lepo (“soil”).


nahele

From Proto-Polynesian *ŋaheLe. Compare Maori ngahere.


kālailau nahele

From kālai- (“-ology, study of”) + lau (“leaf”) + nahele (“vegetation”).


pāleo

Compound of pā (“to hit, to blow, to rebuke”) + leo (“voice”)

compound

to rap, to speak lyrics rhythmically usual of hip-hop music.


pāleoleo

Compound of pā (“to hit, to blow, to rebuke”) + leoleo (“to speak vociferously”)


mele pāleoleo

Compound of mele (“song”) + pāleoleo (“rap”); pāleoleo itself from pā (“to hit, to blow, rebuke”) + leoleo (“to speak vociferously, to converse”) or reduplication of pāleo “to converse, to chat, to talk” (compare with Maori reoreo “conversation”)

rap, hip-hop, form of popular music performed with rhythmical singing (rapping) of lyrics


hoʻokolohua

From hoʻokolo (“to trace to a source”) + hua (“fruit; result”).


hoʻokolo

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kolo (“crawl, creep”).


ʻoheʻohe

Reduplication of ʻohe (“Polyscias sandwicensis”)


ʻohe hoʻonui ʻike

From ʻohe (“tube”) + hoʻonui (“to increase”) + ʻike (“sight”).


kūlana

From kū (“to stand”) + -lana (nominalizing suffix).


hoʻomanaʻo

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + manaʻo (“think, consider”).


-lana

From Proto-Polynesian *-laŋa. Cognate with Maori -ranga.

kū (“to stand”) + -lana → kūlana (“stance, position”)


piʻina

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *pikinga. Cognate with Maori pikinga (“ascent”). By surface analysis, piʻi (“to climb”) + -na (nominalizing suffix).


okaoka

From Proto-Polynesian *qota-qota (“rubbish, refuse”).


kūmau

From Proto-Polynesian *tuqu-maqu. Cognates include Maori tūmau, Tokelauan tūmau, and Samoan tūmau. By surface analysis, kū (“to stand”) + mau (“always”).


akalau

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *ata-rau, from *ata (“shadow”) + *rau (“hundred”). Cognate with Maori atarau (“moonlight”).


haʻa-

haʻa- + lele (“to fly”) → haʻalele (“to abandon”)

haʻa- + ʻawe (“to carry on the back”) → hāʻawe (“to carry on the back”)

haʻa- + ʻāpuka (“to cheat”) → haʻāpuka (“to make cheat”).

alternative form of hoʻo- (causative prefix)


hāʻawe

From haʻa- (causative prefix) + ʻawe (“carry on the back”).


pākiʻi

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *paa-tiki (“flounder, flatfish”). Cognate with Maori pātiki.


ʻaiō

A wave that rises and falls without breaking.


ʻoʻopu

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *kookopu (“small freshwater fish”). Cognate with Maori kōkopu (“cockabully”).

Any of various small marine or freshwater fish in the families Eleotridae (sleeper gobies) and Gobiidae (true gobies).


paikikala

Borrowed from English bicycle. Compare Maori paihikara.


hoʻowela

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + wela (“to be hot”).


pālua

From pā- (distributive prefix) + lua (“two”).


hoʻopālua

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + pālua (“two by two, doubled”).


kekahi

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *te-tasi (“a certain one, another”), from *te (“the”) and *tasi (“one”). By surface analysis, ke + kahi. Cognate with Maori tētahi.

inh

Na'u kekahi i'a.


hale hōʻikeʻike

From hale (“house”) + hōʻikeʻike (“to display”).


hōʻikeʻike

From hō- (causative prefix) + ʻikeʻike, reduplicated form of ʻike (“to see”).


kūʻokoʻa

From kū (“to stand”) + ʻokoʻa (“separate”, adjective).


ʻaha

From Proto-Polynesian *kafa (“sennit (coconut husk fiber)”), from Proto-Oceanic *kapa. Compare Maori kaha (“rope”).


ʻaha

From Proto-Polynesian *kafa (“Diamond-scaled mullet”). Compare Maori kahawai (“Australian salmon”).

needlefish (any fish in the family Belonidae)


ʻahaʻaha

Reduplication of ʻaha, from Proto-Polynesian *kafa (“strong, great”).

der

to sit in a haughty manner (arms akimbo, back stiff, head up)


ʻaha ʻaina

[ˌʔɐ.həˈʔɐj.nə]

[ˌʔɐ.həˈʔɛj.nə]


hoʻomākeʻaka

(stative) amusing, comic, funny, witty, humorous


nīele

Kā! Nīele!

(stative) inquisitive, curious; (derogatory) nosy


mānienie

→ English: manienie

Originally referred to seashore dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus), which is now also called mānienie maoli (literally “native Bermuda grass”). Both of these varieties were introduced from the United States and as a consequence are also called mānienie haole (literally “foreign Bermuda grass”).


mānienie haole

From mānienie (“Bermuda grass”) + haole (“foreign”).


mānienie maoli

From mānienie (“Bermuda grass”) + maoli (“native”), a retronym created after Bermuda grass was introduced to Hawaii and became the most common species referred to as mānienie.

seashore dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus)


mānienie ʻakiʻaki

From mānienie (“Bermuda grass”) + ʻakiʻaki (“to nibble”).


ʻakiʻaki

Reduplication of ʻaki (“to take a nip and let go”). The seaweed must be nibbled at because of its toughness.


ʻakiʻaki

Ahnfeltia concinna, a kind of coarse edible red seaweed.


ʻaki

From Proto-Polynesian *kati (“bite, nip”), from Proto-Oceanic *kaʀat(i), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaʀat (“to bite”), from Proto-Austronesian *kaʀaC (“to bite”).


ʻakina

From ʻaki (“to nip”) + -na (noun suffix).


naʻauao

(stative) enlightened, intelligent, wise


kiʻekiʻe

Reduplication of kiʻe (“high, lofty”). Cognate with Maori tiketike (“high, lofty”).


kiʻe

From Proto-Polynesian *tike (“high, lofty”). Cognate with Rarotongan tike (“high, lofty, elevated, tall”).


hoʻokiʻekiʻe

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kiʻekiʻe (“high, lofty”).

af

(reflexive) to lord it over others, to be overbearing


hoʻomākaukau

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + mākaukau (“ready”).


hoʻomākaʻukaʻu

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + mākaʻukaʻu (“frightened”).


hoʻopaʻanaʻau

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + paʻanaʻau (“memorized”).


naʻaukake

From naʻau (“intestine”) + English sausa(ge).


wahaheʻe

From waha (“mouth”) + heʻe (“slippery”).


hoʻoheʻe

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + heʻe (“slip, slide”).


ʻaholo

From ʻa- + Proto-Polynesian *solo (“collapse; landslide”), from Proto-Oceanic *solo (“sink down, subside; landslide”), source of Maori horo (“landslide”), Tongan holo (“collapse, cave in”).


ʻā-

Perhaps a variation of ʻō-, from Proto-Central Eastern Polynesian *koo-.

ʻā- + wela (“burned”) → ʻāwela (“heated”)

ʻā- + oʻo (“mature”) → ʻāoʻo (“elderly, middle-aged”)

ʻā- + lua (“hole”) → ʻālualua (“full of holes”)


ʻō-

From Proto-Central Eastern Polynesian *koo-. Cognate with Maori kō-.

ʻō- + haʻi (“break, fracture”) → ʻōhaʻi (“imperfectly healed”)

ʻō- + heke (“shy, sensitive”) → ʻōheke (“somewhat modest”)


haʻi

Perhaps from Proto-Polynesian *faki (“pick, pluck”), from Proto-Oceanic *paki (“pluck, break off with the hand”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pak (“break, crack, split”).


ʻōhaʻi

From ʻō- (simulative prefix) + haʻi (“fracture”).


piʻo

From Proto-Polynesian *piko (cognate with Maori piko “bent, curved; bend, curve, corner”, Rarotongan piko, Tahitian piʻo “crooked, bent, to incline facing up”, Tongan piko, plus Samoan piʻo and piʻopiʻo “crooked, meandering, corrupting”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *biŋkuk (“curved, bent” — compare with Malay bengkok)


Piʻolani

piʻo (“arch”) + lani (“sky”) = "heavenly arch, rainbow".


hihio

Partial reduplication of hio (“to gust”).


pūhihio

From pū- (simulative prefix) + hihio, partial reduplication of hio (“to blow in gusts”).


pū-

pū- + hio (“to blow in gusts”) → pūhihio (“to whirl (of wind)”)

pū- + hene (“to snicker”) → pūhene (“to giggle”)

pū- + mehana (“warmth”) → pumehana (“warm”)

pū- + haʻu (“to puff”) → puhaʻu (“to puff out”)


pumehana

From pu- (simulative prefix) + mehana, variant form of mahana (“warmth”).


hoʻopumehana

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + pumehana (“to be warm”).


hoʻokomo

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + komo (“enter”).


kaha hoʻokomo

From kaha (“punctuation mark”) + hoʻokomo (“to insert”).

com

caret (mark used by proofreaders to indicate insertion)


kahakaha

Reduplication of kaha (“to mark, to scratch, to slice”).


kahakaha kolohe

From kahakaha (“scratches, marks, lines”) + kolohe (“destructive”).


hoʻokolohe

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kolohe (“mischievous”).

af

(intransitive) to make mischief, to play pranks


hoʻohālāwai

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + hālāwai (“to meet”).

causative of hālāwai (“to meet”); to arrange a meeting


moamoa

(transitive) to care for, to supply with food


male lehulehu

From male (“marry”) + lehulehu (“multitude”).


aupuni na ka lehulehu

From aupuni (“government”) + na (“for”) + ka (“the”) + lehulehu (“public, multitude”).


aupuni pelekikena

From aupuni (“government”) + pelekikena (“president”)


hale hoʻonani

From hale (“house”) + hoʻonani (“beautify”).


ponopono

(stative) neat, tidy, arranged, in order


hale kūʻai

From hale (“house”) + kūʻai (“buying and selling”).


hale kūʻai mea ʻai

From hale kūʻai (“store”) + mea ʻai (“food”).


moʻa

Phonologically irregular descendant of Proto-Polynesian *maqoha, from Proto-Oceanic *ma-osak (“ready to be eaten”), from Proto-Austronesian *ma-qesak (“ripe, cooked, ready to eat”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qesak (“ripe, cooked, ready to eat”). Cognate with Maori maoa (“cooked”), Rarotongan maoa (“fully cooked”).


hoʻomoʻa

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + moʻa (“cooked”).


hoʻokali

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kali (“to wait”).

(transitive) causative of kali (“to wait”)


kaunaʻoa

Cuscuta sandwichiana, a parasitic vine endemic to the Hawai'ian Islands.

Galaxaura rugosa, a coarse seaweed bearing some resemblance to the vine.

worm snail (marine gastropod in the family Vermetidae)


unaʻoa

From Proto-Polynesian *quŋa-koa (“worm snail”). Perhaps from *quŋa (“hermit crab”), in which case related to unauna (“hermit crabs”).


kohe lemu

From kohe (“vagina”) + lemu (“buttocks”).

taint (space between the vagina and the anus)


lelemu

Partial reduplication of lemu (“sluggish”).

(stative) sluggish, disinclined to get up


pākali

From Proto-Central Eastern Polynesian *paatari "entice, attract". Cognate with Maori pātari (“entice”).

to decoy fish by doling out bait little-by-little

(by extension) to dole out little by little


nunuha

Partial reduplication of nuha (“sulky”).


hoʻonaʻaupō

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + naʻaupō (“ignorant”).


piʻipiʻi

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *piki-piki. Cognate with Rapa Nui pikipiki (“curly”).


piʻipiʻi

(intransitive) to bubble forth, to effervesce


hoʻāhu

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + ahu (“heap”).


hoʻēmi

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + emi (“diminish”).


pāʻoihana

From pā- + ʻoihana (“occupation, activities”).


keʻena

From keʻe (“crooked”) + -na (noun suffix).


hoʻomaʻau

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + Proto-Polynesian *makau (“be hostile”).


mālolo

From Proto-Polynesian *maalolo (“flying fish”). Cognate with Maori māroro, Samoan mālolo.

inh

(figurative) fickle person who leaps from mate to mate


ʻau mālolo

From ʻau (“swim”) + mālolo (“flying fish”).


ʻau mālolo

(intransitive) to swim the butterfly stroke


hoʻomalolo

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + malolo (“resting”).

af

to pause work, to adjourn, to take a break


wā hoʻomalolo

From wā (“time”) + hoʻomalolo (“to take a break”).


wā pāʻani

From wā (“time, occasion”) + pāʻani (“to play”).


hāuli

From haʻa- (simulative prefix) + uli (“having a dark color”).


kūkaeuli

From kūkae (“excrement”) + uli (“to be any dark color”).

com

ink excreted by an octopus in order to escape


kūkaeloli

From kūkae (“excrement”) + loli (“sea slug”).


ilina

From ili (“stranded”) + -na (abstract noun suffix).


ilina

From ili (“to inherit”) + -na (abstract noun suffix).


hōʻaumoe

From hōʻ- (causative prefix) + aumoe (“late at night”).


kīhāpai

Madagascar periwinkle
Madagascar periwinkle


haʻalele

From Proto-Polynesian *faka-lala (“let go”). By surface analysis, haʻa- (causative prefix) + lele (“fly, leap”).


hoʻolālā

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + lālā (“branch out”).


papa hoʻolālā

From papa (“foundation”) + hoʻolālā (“to plan”).

com

plan (particularly one involving decision-making)


kuaʻāina

countryside, country (contrasted with "city"), backwoods


hoʻokuaʻāina

From hoʻo- (“acting like”) + kuaʻāina (“country, rustic”).

af

to act like someone from the countryside


hoʻokua

to persevere (persist in a task that has become burdensome)


leʻaleʻa

Reduplication of leʻa (“happiness, pleasure”).


leʻa

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *leka (“pleasant”). Cognate with Maori reka (“pleasant”), Tokelauan leka (“joke”).


leʻa

ʻike leʻa


māino

From mā- (stative prefix) + ʻino (“wicked, immoral”), with loss of the glottal stop.


mā-

From Proto-Polynesian *maa- or by lengthening of ma-.

mā- + ʻino (“wicked, immoral”) → māino (“cruelty, harm”)

alternative form of ma- (prefix indicating quality or state)


mākaʻikaʻi

Reduplication of mākaʻi (“visit, inspect”).


ʻauwai

→ English: auwai


kāmaʻa

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *taamaka (“sandals”). By surface analysis, kā- (causative prefix) + maʻa (“bind”). Cognate with Maori tāmaka.


alahao

Compound of ala (“road”) + hao (“iron”) – compare with Cantonese 鐵路 /铁路 (tit³ lou⁶) and Japanese 鉄道.

Ke nome ka huila i ke alahao...


hoʻokahua

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kahua (“foundation”).


wilipuaʻa

From wili (“crank”) + puaʻa (“hog”). Euphemism for ulepuaʻa (literally “hog penis”).


kāhāhā

(intransitive) to wonder, to be surprised


kāhāhā

expresses surprise, wonder, or displeasure


hoʻokāhāhā

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kāhāhā (“astonishing”).


ā laʻa lā

told you so, serves you right (indicates that the addressee is deserving of the consequences of their actions)


hoʻomaʻamaʻa

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + maʻamaʻa (“accustomed”).


kuke kū

to blow violently, bluster; (of waves) to rage


ʻōpikipiki

From ʻō- (simulative prefix) + pikipiki (“to pinch”).


niuhi

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *niufi (“species of shark”).

inh

A man-eating shark, especially the great white.


hoʻomanō

From hoʻo- (“acting like”) + manō (“shark”).


kūnāhihi

(figurative) dismayed, shocked, horrified


nohona

From noho (“sit; reside”) + -na (abstract noun suffix).


hoʻonoho

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + noho (“sit; reside”).


kūʻonoʻono

From kū (“to stand”) + ʻonoʻono, reduplication of ʻono (“tasty”).


hōʻono

From hō- (causative prefix) + ʻono (“tasty; crave”).


kiaʻi

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *tiaki (“to guard, to wait for”). Cognate with Maori tiaki (“watch, keep”).


kūkulu

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *tu(lu)tulu (“house post, wall post”), reduplication of *tulu (“post”).

nā kūkulu ʻehā

(geography) cardinal point, compass point


kūkulu

Either from the preceding or from kū (“to stand”) + kulu (“post”).


hopena

From hope (“rear, behind”) + -na (abstract noun suffix).


hopena pāheu

From hopena (“result”) + pāheu (“allergy”).


noʻonoʻo ʻole

From noʻonoʻo (“thought, thinking”) + ʻole (“without”).


mea ʻole

(stative) inconsequential, trivial, unimportant


hoʻonaʻanaʻa

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + naʻanaʻa (“protruding”).


naʻanaʻa

Perhaps from reduplication of naʻa (“firmly seated”).


kāpena

Borrowed from English captain, from Old French capitaine.


kāpena

Borrowed from English cabin, from Old French cabane.


hoʻokuʻu

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + kuʻu (“to release”).

Ua hoʻokuʻu ʻia ʻo ia.


māʻona

From Proto-Polynesian *maa-kona (“satisfied after eating”). Cognate with Maori mākona (“satiated”).


moe hilinaʻi

From moe (“bed”) + hilinaʻi (“lean on”).


ʻālapa

From ʻā (“fiery”) + lapa (“energetic”). A historical epithet of King Kamehameha.


ʻōlapa

From ʻō- (simulative prefix) + lapa (“to flash”).

af

(astronautics) to lift off, to blast off


ʻōlapa

A tree of the genus Cheirodendron, of which five species are endemic to Hawai'i.


ʻoʻoleʻa

[ˌʔo.ʔoˈlɛ.ʔə]


ʻoʻoleʻa

[ˌʔo.ʔoˈlɛ.ʔə]


maluhi

From ma- (stative prefix) + luhi (“tiresome”).


hoʻopau

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + pau (“finished”).


pauaho

(figurative) faint of heart, discouraged


aumiki

From au (“current”) + miki (“receding”).


hoʻoneʻe

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + neʻe (“creep”).


palai kahawai

From palai (“a native fern”) + kahawai (“stream”).


hihiawai

From hihia (“entanglement; thicket”) + wai (“water”)


ʻōpio

Kamanawa ʻŌpio


hokua

Hō aʻe ka ʻike heʻe nalu i ka hokua o ka ʻale.

Show your knowledge of surfing on the crest of the wave.


ʻale

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *kale (“a wave that ripples or breaks”). Cognate with Maori kare (“ripples”).


Kahoʻolawe

→ English: Kahoolawe

From ka (definite article) + hoʻolawe, causative of lawe (“to take”).

Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands#English

Kahoolawe (the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands of the Hawaiian Islands)


ʻiwa

From Proto-Central Eastern Polynesian *kiwa.

Asplenium horridum, a species of native fern.


kino lau

ʻIke ʻia nā kinolau o Kū ma ka nahele ʻo ka ʻōhiʻa ʻoe ʻo ke kī ʻoe o ka noni ʻoe.

2010, Kawehilani Avelino, No ke kumu ʻulu, page 2:

The forms in which Kū appears in nature are the ʻōhiʻa, the ti plant, the great morinda.

(Hawaiian mythology) forms taken by a supernatural body


ʻopi

From Proto-Polynesian *kopi (“double together, fold”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *gepit (“pinch, squeeze between”).


aouli

From ao (“[high] cloud”) + uli (“blue”).


hulipoepoe

From huli (“turn, revolve”) + poepoe (“sphere”).


hoʻopoe

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + poe (“round”).


pipi hoʻopoe

From pipi (“beef”) + hoʻopoe (“make round”).


pōloli

From Proto-Central Eastern Polynesian *poorori "hungry". Cognate with Tahitian porori (“hungry”).

Pōloli ka ʻōpū.


lōpū

ke paʻi lōpū


kānāwai kumu

kānāwai (“law”) + kumu (“base”). Compare similar parallels such as Malay undang-undang tubuh.


pāpaʻu

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *pa(a)paku (“shallow”), from *pa(a)- + *paku (“dried up”).


pipiʻi

Partial reduplication of piʻi (“to ascend”).


pākū

From Proto-Central Eastern Polynesian *paa-tuu. Cognate with Maori pātū (“wall, screen, edge”).
By surface analysis, pā (“enclosure”) + kū (“stand”).


pāʻū

→ English: pa'u

a skirt (especially a traditional women's skirt worn by horseback riders)


heheʻe

Partial reduplication of heʻe (“to slide”).


ʻūheheʻe

[ʔuː.hɛˈhɛ.ʔɛ]

From ʻū- (instrumental prefix) + heheʻe (“to melt”).


ula pāpapa

From ula (“spiny lobster”) + pāpapa (“flat”).

Parribacus antarcticus, a species of slipper lobster found in the South Pacific.


pāpapa poepoe

From pāpapa (“bean”) + poepoe (“round”).


pāpaʻa

From pā- (“having the quality of”) + paʻa (“firm, hard”).


lauhoe

From lau- (“multi-, many”) + hoe (“to paddle”)


kīpuka

→ English: kipuka

From Proto-Polynesian *tii-puta (“to make a hole in something; cape, poncho”). By surface analysis, kī- (intensifying prefix) + puka (“hole”).

surf

a variation or change in form, such as:
an oasis in a lava bed

a variation or change in form, such as:
a calm place in the sea

a variation or change in form, such as:
a deep place in a shoal

an opening in a forest or a cloud formation


ʻoka kilika

silky oak (Grevillea robusta), an evergreen tree not closely related to true oaks.


kilika

Borrowed from English silk. The black mulberry was imported to Hawai'i in the hopes of establishing silk production.


lole paheʻe

From lole (“clothing”) + paheʻe (“slippery”).


paheʻe

From pa- (“having the quality of”) + heʻe (“to slip”). Compare Maori paheke (“slippery”).

af

ʻōlelo paheʻe


māhu

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *ma-qafu (“steam; steamy”).


hoʻomāhu

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + māhu (“to steam”).

af

Hoʻomāhu ʻo ia i ka ʻulu, lomi ʻia me ka ʻakaʻakai me ka ʻakaʻakai pīlau, ke kai Worcestershire me nā mea hoʻomiko ʻai, hana ʻia he mau poepoe a palai ʻia ma ke pā palai.

2021 June 3, Jessica Tyrrell, “Makemake Anei ʻOe E Emi Mai Ko Hawaiʻi Kaukaʻi ʻAna I Ka ʻAi Hoʻopae ʻIa? E Hoʻololi I Kāu Papaʻai”, in N. Haʻalilio Solomon, transl., Honolulu Civil Beat, Ka Ulana Pilina:

He steams the breadfruit, it is mashed with onions and garlic, Worcestershire sauce and spices, made into patties and pan fried.


ʻakaʻakai naku

From ʻakaʻakai (“great bulrush”) + naku (“bulrush”).


hoʻopuka

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + puka (“hole”).


hoʻopuka

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + puka (“pass through, etc.”).


hoʻōkaoka

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + okaoka (“small bits”).


hoʻopilikia

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + pilikia (“trouble”).

causative of pilikia (“in trouble”); to get (s.o.) into trouble, to cause trouble for


haele

alternative form of hele (“go; come”) used with dual and plural subjects


uhaele

From u- (plural prefix) + haele (“go; come [plural]”)

E uhaele kākou i kahakai.


ʻa-

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *ka- (counting particle prefixed to numbers). Cognate with Maori ka-.

inh

ʻa- + lua (“two”) → ʻalua (“two; twice”)


ʻa-

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

nonlemma

ʻa- + kolo (“to creep”) → ʻakolo (“to attempt to creep”)

alternative form of ʻā- (simulative prefix)


ʻehaʻeha

[ˌʔɛ.həˈʔɛ.hə]


ʻe-

ʻe- + lua (“two, second”) → ʻelua (“two”)


hoʻomaʻalahi

From hoʻo- (causative prefix) + maʻalahi (“simple”).


akahele

From aka- (“slowly, carefully”) + hele (“to move”).


ʻapeʻape

Reduplication of ʻape “giant taro, Alocasia macrorrhiza” (compare with Tongan kape).


ʻapeʻape

Related to Maori kapetā “to flutter” and kapetau ~ kapekapetau “to move to and fro; to open and close [of the mouth]; to yap or chatter”.

flapping motion like those of a fish's gills underwater


ʻanāʻanā

[ˌʔɐ.naː.ʔəˈnaː]

Reduplicated form of Proto-Eastern Polynesian *kaŋa (“place a curse on someone”). Compare Maori kanga (“curse, abuse”, verb).


ʻanāʻanā

[ˌʔɐ.naː.ʔəˈnaː]


kōlea

→ English: kolea

From Proto-Central-Eastern Polynesian *toorea. Compare Maori tōrea (“oystercatcher”).


nahenahe

From Proto-Polynesian *ŋaseŋase (“weak, feeble”). Cognate with Maori ngahengahe (“weak, wasted”).


moloā

From Proto-Polynesian *maloaqa (“uncomfortable, unhappy”).


kiʻiʻoniʻoni

kiʻi (“image”) + ʻoniʻoni reduplicate of ʻoni (“to move”)

Ua komo ae o M. Kahanamoku iloko o kekahi aelike, no kona hoikeike i kekahi mau hana hoopihoihoi noonoo e paa ai maloko o na kiionioni malalo o na hooponopono ana a Mr. Henning...

1922 February 10, “He Hiona no ka Hoolalaia Ana o Kahi Auau Ma Punahou”, in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, page 5:

Mr. Kahanamoku signed a contract to perform amazing stunts that will be made into a movie under Mr. [Oscar] Henning's guidance...


ʻoniʻoni

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *konikoni (compare with Maori konikoni) from Proto-Polynesian *koni. Also reanalyzable as reduplication of ʻoni (“to move” – compare with Tahitian ʻoni and Maori koni “to move”)

to go or move back and forth, to wiggle, to jiggle, to wag