Basic Greetings

Hello

Aloha. (ah-loh-hah)

Good morning

Aloha kakahiaka. (ah-loh-hah kah-kah-hee-ah-kah)

Good evening

Aloha ahiahi. (ah-loh-hah ah-hee-ah-hee)

Goodbye

A hui hou. (ah hoo-ee hoh-oo)

See you later

A hui hou. (ah hoo-ee hoh-oo)

Nice to meet you

Hauʻoli ka hui ʻana me ʻoe. (how-oh-lee kah hoo-ee ah-nah meh oh-eh)

Welcome

E komo mai. (eh koh-moh my)

How are you?

Pehea ʻoe? (peh-heh-ah oh-eh)

I’m fine

Maikaʻi au. (my-kah-ee ow)

And you?

A pehea ʻoe? (ah peh-heh-ah oh-eh)

Good afternoon

Aloha ʻauinalā. (ah-loh-hah ow-ee-nah-lah)

Have a good day

I lā maikaʻi nou. (ee lah my-kah-ee no-oo)

Good night

Aloha pō. (ah-loh-hah poh)

How is everything?

Pehea nā mea a pau? (peh-heh-ah nah meh-ah ah pow)

Everything is good

Maikaʻi nā mea a pau. (my-kah-ee nah meh-ah ah pow)

What is new?

He aha ka mea hou? (heh ah-hah kah meh-ah ho-oo)

Nothing much

ʻAʻohe mea hou. (ah-oh-heh meh-ah ho-oo)

Take care

Mālama pono. (mah-lah-mah poh-noh)

Long time no see

Lōʻihi ka ʻike ʻole. (loh-ee-hee kah ee-keh oh-leh)

Hello friend

Aloha e kuʻu hoa. (ah-loh-hah eh koo-oo hoh-ah)

Politeness & Basics

Please

E ʻoluʻolu. (eh oh-loo-oh-loo)

Thank you

Mahalo. (mah-hah-loh)

Thank you very much

Mahalo nui loa. (mah-hah-loh noo-ee loh-ah)

You’re welcome

ʻAʻole pilikia. (ah-oh-leh pee-lee-kee-ah)

Excuse me

E kala mai iaʻu. (eh kah-lah my ee-ah-oo)

I’m sorry

E kala mai. (eh kah-lah my)

No problem

ʻAʻohe pilikia. (ah-oh-heh pee-lee-kee-ah)

That’s okay

Ua maikaʻi. (oo-ah my-kah-ee)

Of course

Hiki nō. (hee-kee noh)

Don’t worry

Mai hopohopo. (my hoh-poh-hoh-poh)

Yes

ʻAe. (ah-eh)

No

ʻAʻole. (ah-oh-leh)

Maybe

Paha. (pah-hah)

I understand

Maopopo iaʻu. (mow-poh-poh ee-ah-oo)

I don’t understand

ʻAʻole maopopo iaʻu. (ah-oh-leh mow-poh-poh ee-ah-oo)

Just a moment

Kali iki. (kah-lee ee-kee)

Please speak slowly

E ʻoluʻolu e ʻōlelo lohi. (eh oh-loo-oh-loo eh oh-leh-loh loh-hee)

Could you repeat that?

Hiki iā ʻoe ke ʻōlelo hou? (hee-kee ee-ah oh-eh keh oh-leh-loh ho-oo)

Do you speak English?

ʻŌlelo Pelekānia ʻoe? (oh-leh-loh peh-leh-kah-nee-ah oh-eh)

I speak a little Hawaiian

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi au liʻiliʻi. (oh-leh-loh hah-wy-ee ow lee-ee-lee-ee)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need ...

I need water.

Pono au i ka wai. (poh-noh ow ee kah wy)

I need help.

Pono au i ke kōkua. (poh-noh ow ee keh koh-koo-ah)

I need a doctor.

Pono au i ke kauka. (poh-noh ow ee keh kow-kah)

I need a telephone.

Pono au i ke kelepona. (poh-noh ow ee keh keh-leh-poh-nah)

I need money.

Pono au i ke kālā. (poh-noh ow ee keh kah-lah)

Pattern: I want ...

I want food.

Makemake au i ka meaʻai. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow ee kah meh-ah-eye)

I want a ticket.

Makemake au i ke kikiki. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow ee keh kee-kee-kee)

I want to rest.

Makemake au e hoʻomaha. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow eh hoh-oh-mah-hah)

I want to sleep.

Makemake au e hiamoe. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow eh hee-ah-moh-eh)

I want to go.

Makemake au e hele. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow eh heh-leh)

Pattern: I would like ...

I would like coffee.

Makemake au i ke kope. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow ee keh koh-peh)

I would like tea.

Makemake au i ke kī. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow ee keh kee)

I would like this.

Makemake au i kēia. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow ee keh-ee-ah)

I would like that.

Makemake au i kēlā. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow ee keh-lah)

I would like the menu.

Makemake au i ka papa kuhikuhi meaʻai. (mah-keh-mah-keh ow ee kah pah-pah koo-hee-koo-hee meh-ah-eye)

Pattern: Can you ...?

Can you help me?

Hiki iā ʻoe ke kōkua iaʻu? (hee-kee ee-ah oh-eh keh koh-koo-ah ee-ah-oo)

Can you tell me?

Hiki iā ʻoe ke haʻi mai iaʻu? (hee-kee ee-ah oh-eh keh hah-ee my ee-ah-oo)

Can you write it?

Hiki iā ʻoe ke kākau i kēlā? (hee-kee ee-ah oh-eh keh kah-kow ee keh-lah)

Can you wait?

Hiki iā ʻoe ke kali? (hee-kee ee-ah oh-eh keh kah-lee)

Can you open this?

Hiki iā ʻoe ke wehe i kēia? (hee-kee ee-ah oh-eh keh weh-heh ee keh-ee-ah)

Pattern: Where is ...?

Where is the bathroom?

Aia i hea ka lua? (eye-ah ee heh-ah kah loo-ah)

Where is the hospital?

Aia i hea ka haukapila? (eye-ah ee heh-ah kah how-kah-pee-lah)

Where is the bank?

Aia i hea ka panakō? (eye-ah ee heh-ah kah pah-nah-koh)

Where is the hotel?

Aia i hea ka hōkele? (eye-ah ee heh-ah kah hoh-keh-leh)

Where is the store?

Aia i hea ka hale kūʻai? (eye-ah ee heh-ah kah hah-leh koo-eye)