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A Brief Background to Hawaii Pidgin. Hawaiian Pidgin has evolved from the old plantation days when immigrants came from different countries to work in Hawaii’s sugar cane fields. First came the Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese in the mid-1800s.
- Quick Background on Hawaiian Slang
- Local Hawaiian Slang Dictionary
- Hawaiian Slang Adjectives
- Hawaiian Slang For Food
- Hawaiian Slang Directions, Places and Things
- Hawaiian Slang For People and Animals
- Hawaiian Slang Greetings and Phrases
Hawaiian slang, more popularly known as Pidgin, is Hawaii’s unofficial local language and can be heard spoken throughout the islands by the locals. It is a mix of English, Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese and Portuguese wordsthat came about in the 19th century when migrants came from those respective countries to work the plantations in Hawaii...
The following are helpful words and phrases to know when you visit Hawaii, with some you may not even hear but are fun to know anyway 🙂 Disclaimer: I have not studied the Hawaiian language, nor Pidgin, so I am not claiming to be an expert. The following translations are what I have learned the words to mean based on my own observations being in Ha...
Chang
What does chang mean?This pidgin word means to be frugal or have a tight wallet, aka cheap. Example: No tip? You so chang, brah.
Choke
What does choke mean? In Hawaiian pidgin, choke means to have a lot of something. Example: “So, you catch any fish?” “Oh yeah. Choke, brah.” How do you pronounce choke?Exactly like how it is pronounced in English.
Irrahz
What does irrahz mean? Hawaiian slang short for irritating, annoying. Example: Stop that complaining. You so irrahz.
Aku
What is aku?Aku is the Hawaiian word for shipjack tuna, a local favorite in Hawaii. Example: Dis dried aku is so ono, ya? How do you pronounce aku?AH-koo
Broke da mouth
What does broke da mouth mean?This is one of my favorite pidgin phrases meaning something that tastes so good it hurts your mouth! Delicious. Example: “How’s da spicy tuna?” “So good! Broke da mouth.”
Crack seed
What is crack seed? Whenever we are in Hawaii we eat a lot of this and when we go home we bring a lot back as gifts! Crack seed is locals’ favorite snack food, and can be salty, sweet or sour. Examples: Japanese arare, li hing mango, candied ginger, dried cuttlefish, Hurricane popcorn
Aina
What does aina mean?Aina is the Hawaiian word for land. Example: Try respect the aina, ya? How do you pronounce aina?EYE-na
Coconut Wireless
What does coconut wireless mean? The coconut wireless is similar to “hearing through the grapevine”. It’s when gossip spreads super quickly through word of mouth. Example: “Who’s your new girlfriend?” “How you know I have a girlfriend?” “Heard through da coconut wireless.”
Ewa/Leeward
What does ewa mean?Ewa is used on Oahu as a direction, meaning westwards, aka towards Ewa Beach. You will also hear the word leeward used instead to mean the west side of the island. Example: They live ewa side. How do you pronounce ewa?EH-va
Aunty/Uncle
What does aunty/uncle mean? Older lady, older man. (Be careful not to call someone younger aunty or uncle) I quickly learned when we were out and about that Ryan would call everyone aunty or uncle but that didn’t mean they were related! Example: Hey Aunty, you know my maddah and fuddah? They owned the gas station in Hanapepe.
Chicken skin
What does chicken skin mean? Goosebumps. Example: How’s dat ghost story? I get all chicken skin!
Hanabata
What does hanabata mean? Nose boogers! This one originates from Japanese. Example: Hey, stop using your shirt and get one Kleenex for that hanabata!
Aloha
What does aloha mean?This is probably the most recognized Hawaiian word. It is used as a greeting both to say hello and goodbye, but it also stands for the feeling of love and kindness, aka the aloha spirit. Example: K dens, see you next week. Aloha.
Au’rite
What does au’rite mean?It’s the local way to excitedly say “all right!” Example: Aloha Friday! Au’rite!
Chee-hoo
What does chee-hoo mean?This is a very popular local phrase I hear in Hawaii. It’s an expression of excitement! Example: Three-day weekend! Chee-hoo!
- B-52 Bombah. Roaches, specifically the big kind that can fly. “Grab my slippah, I gotta kill one B-52 bombah!”
- Beef. Surprisingly, not the meat. In context, asking someone if they like beef is an invitation to a fight or alercation. “What, like beef?”
- Bumbai (bum-bye) This Pidgin phrase features multiple definitions, like “otherwise,” “or else,” “later,” “later on.” “Brah, you better not stay up late bumbai you’ll miss your alarm.”
- Brah. A casual way to refer to somebody, short for brother or braddah. “Brah, you get the time?
Sep 14, 2023 · Hawaiian Pidgin, like other pidgin or creole languages, is a mixture of the pieces of several different languages that have been brought together to form a new language. It’s roots are on the sugarcane plantations of 19th century Hawaii where Hawaiian, Portuguese, English, Cantonese, Japanese and other speakers intermingled and birthed this new language.
Oct 1, 2024 · The following are a mixture of words and slang that will help get the malihini (newcomer or visitor) speaking Hawaiian in no time. ‘Ohana. ‘Ohana is family, the center of traditional Hawaiian life like in many cultures. ‘Ono. Delicious or tasty. “Hey, dat’s ‘ono grindz!”.
Aloha. Aloha is a funny one since it has so many definitions—it can mean hello and goodbye. Itʻs also what we call the spirit of generosity and giving found here in Hawaiʻi, hence the term “aloha spirit.”. “Aloha!”. 2. ʻĀina. The Hawaiian word for land, locals will often refer to the island youʻre on as the “ʻāina.”.
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Da Pidgin Dictionary is the most complete pidgin resource with 417 entries and is frequently updated with new phrases as pidgin evolves. Hawaiian Pidgin originated in the 19th century on sugarcane plantations as a way for workers from different linguistic backgrounds, including Native Hawaiians, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Filipinos, to communicate with each other and their English ...
