is E kala mai. This is almost the same as saying sorry, pardon me, or excuse me. Say it when you feel it is proper (not like one Japanese Tourist: Sorreee So Sorreeee, Sorreee!). You Going sound real mento if you ack l'dat. Some Good times to use 'um: 1) You Just wen rip one stink one. 2) You just wen steal somebody's seat in the bus. 3) You just wen mistaken a woman fo' a man (or vice versa).
is "ohana." Locals know Ohana means family, but where does ohana exist? Ohana exists when there is a balance between husband and wife; balance between parent and children. Ohana is where there is love, service and sacrifice. Love is in a bruised okole; service is in a shaka and smile after some kokua; locals sacrifice money and material things so we can see our legacy (children) live for a greater tomorrow.
is "Waimea." "Okay Cousin, I going Waimea." "W'ot? Get Waves?!" "No, brah, I goin'..." "You get family on Kauai? My uncle grad from Waimea High School. Mean eh..da canyon?!" "No, brah I goin' Waimea on the Big Island?" "Das YHard get so many Waimeas in Hawaii." That's Right: All different...but All Country. Alohaz from LWOD. Vacationing on Big Island for one Family Reunion. I'll keep the words coming.
is "kokua." My tutu used to say, "Many hands make light work." Locals working together can get plenty done. Whether it's preparing for a luau, organizing community events, cleaning grandma's yard, or winning a football game, it's more meaningful (and easier) if it's done together. No be shame to accept/ask for help when you need it. And no be lazy/selfish to help somebody.
is "oka fefe." Pronounced oh-KAH Fayfay. Most times just oka. But it's the Samoan way of saying OMG/WTF. The faster you say it the better...Locals never drag this out, and they only sprinkle it in their talk thru the day. So don't start saying this like you would OMG! (It's annoying). You don't wanna annoy a Samoan Local. "Sole, Did you call dad yet and wish him Happy Fathers day?" "Oka! I fo'kot."
is "squid luau." The stuff we serve at luaus that looks and smells like something Master Yoda would make for Luke in the Dagobah Swamp. Green, soft and smelly, but it tastes like heaven. Put that concoction on some rice and it is our family's favorite. Just remember, cover it with a cloth. The steam that sweats from the lid back into the squid luau speeds up the spoiling process of the coconut milk.
is same-same. You get something that somebody else get, like you shop at the same store: like the same prom dress, same muu muu, same bodyboard, same Honda Accord or Civic, etc. "Junior, you make sure all the laulau is same same." "Yeah tutu, no worry!" "No worry?!! Last time was all kapulu. Some had too much leaves! All the Uncles think I'm becoming a vegetarian."
is "hana pa'a." On wehewehe.org it means "to make secure, fasten, or shut up..." also a way of saying you have steady employment. Locals know that when someone is pole fishing, "Hana pa'a!" means, "I got a bite!" "Kimo, Honey?" "Yes, My love." "You know after I said, 'Yes, Let's get Married,' you told your friends, Hanapa'a. What did that mean?" "My love...It meant I caught YOU..My ultimate prize." "Oh, Ok. Too bad wasn't a tag and release" (she whispered). Making the fish bite is one thing...landing them is another: Gaff Man is a Winnah!
is "kamaboko." Word from the Japanese again. It's the cucumber-sliced-looking pink stuff in your saimin (Fish Cake). It's also what locals wear on their feet that makes loud clack-clacking noises when you walk thru the market (kamaboko slippahs). "Honey, howzda the saimin?" "It's good!...You going eat da kamaboko?" "Eh, I no eat slippahz! Das gross!" "Fish cake lolo! And you wear Crocs!"
is "Laupahoehoe." A small town along the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island. According to Wikipedia the name means "leaf-lava" (for the leaf-shaped lava that lines many of its beaches. A simple place with a simple reminder of the April Fool's Day Tsunami in 1946. Also the setting to a classic Hapa Hawaiian song, "Boy from Laupahoehoe." The song describes the typical local beach boy.
LWOD is "chili peppah waddah." This probably dates back to the plantation days, when food was not only scarce but gross, gardens were more a necessity than just fo' looks and Tabasco sauce just hadn't been invented. Chili Pepper water is the local hot sauce that takes you back to Lolas (grandma's) dinnah table.
is "Haddit." You had enough of something or someone you wanna make them TAPOUT or YOU FEEL LIKE TAPPING OUT. When you wanna make someone TAPOUT: "You, kolohe kids! I haddit wit'chu! Like ack eh? You guys goin' get it!" When You like TAPOUT: "Brah, I just did da IRONMAN...I stay Haddit!" "Brah, I wen' travel thru 8 different timezones today...I stay Haddit." "My wife wen' surf & left me wit' da kids..."
is "Han-DOH? (Handle)" Locals like to know if you're strong enough...to do anything and everything. Different examples: "W'ot brah? Surf stay big...can handle?" "W'ot Brah? Heard you got deeVOHst, can handle?" "See Brah! Like fight wit' that tidah? You no can handle! Brah, no cry!" "Brah! Local wahines are tuff! Kids, Work, Single/Married, Soccer practice, make dinner, church, etc.=Can Handle Anything.
is "panipopo." Now there are hot buns, honey buns, buttered buns and dinner rolls...and then there are buns that are equal to none: Das Right, Panipopo. Samoans Know How to do it. Freshly baked buns simmering in, and drizzled with the perfect amount of coconut sauce. If you ever disliked coconut, try give this a try; it just might convert you. Sweet, soft and HOTT! Just the way Buns should be.
is "kumu." Locals know this word to mean teacher. But in essence it is much more. It can also mean the source, like in the Hawaiian origin chant, the Kumu lipo. So if you're learning hula, your kumu hula should be given proper respect because he/she is the origin of your knowledge. Kumu (with the long sound over both "u"s) is the prized, red goatfish fishermen and divers hunt for endlessly.
is "tako." Pronounced TAH-koh, like the Mexican food. Japanese borrowed word for octopus. All around Hawaii Locals go diving for tako (a.k.a. squid, but it's not squid, it's he'e). Tako is good to make Tako Poke, Squid Luau or a variety of Polynesian dishes. Having the ability to spot them is called having good "squid eye." "Ho! Honey, like learn fo' poke squid?" "W'ot you talking..stay dark already...cannot see." "No worry. Mo' betta when dark." "You think I stupid or w'ot? I know no more tako up Tantalus."
is "Kaimuki." Ka-imu-ki means the ti leaf oven. Hawaiians baked the roots of ti leaf and ate it as a dessert. Historically, Kaimuki was the first suburban district in Honolulu. Although it's broken into smaller known communities/areas (Kapahulu, Moiliili, St. Louis Hts, Palolo), the diversity from it's plantation days stay strong. From Kaimuki: Plenny places for eat. Crusader Football. Braddah IZ
is "feesh." "I like the fish and poi, I'm a beeg boy..." Arguably the best source of protein for Local meat eaters. Pork has too much fat (the dahktah sed) and Chicken can make you paranoid (salmonella, avian flu, still pink..oh no!) and Dog has a cute face. Steam'um, Fry'um, Bread'um, Soup'um, Grill'um ...we could do the Bubbah Gump Shimp routine to this local style meal..wit'out da chocho lip.
is "stay." In pidgin this is the 'to be' verb in present tense (am, are, is). "Daddy! where you stay?" "I stay driving, Honey." "I hope you no stay on da H-1. I stay watchin' da news, one guy stay driving the wrong way on the freeway." "Honey, Traffic stay crazy right now and for some reason getchoooke people driving the wrong way on the freeway...Honey, Try Wait! (in background) Watch it PAL!
is "Bule" (pronounced BOO-Leh). Pidgin has a respectful voice like Spanish and Japanese. Bule is an informal default name. Out of respect, never call some one older than you "Bule." But with those you have an informal relationship with (and is not your elder) feel free to call them this if you forget their name: "Ho! Bule, long time no see!" "Yup! Since Graduation!" "Auryte!, You on Facebook often?"
is "ho'o ponopono." It means to set things right. When there is dramaz in a local family there are two choices: Make right or make dumb. Those that chose to make it right, do so by "ho'o ponopono." Locals talk, share, pray, reconcile, reimburse, re-share, re-discuss, and finally forgive and learn. No let the hate fester into something that tear us apart when all that's really between us is pride.
is "hapai." Hapai is the Hawaiian word for pregnant. Good news: No ma'i for 9months. Bad News: When the baby comes out so does 9months of PMS. "HO!, Kimo! I all mad right now!" "Brah, How come you mad?" "The doctor said my wife having triplets! I like know who gave my wife the other two babies!" "Yeah brah, we go buss'um up when we find'um." Moral: Sex Education Helps!
is "skebe." Wikipedia says it's from the Japanese word sukebei that means horny. Locals understand it as perverted old men. "Ho, brah I wen' walk home lastnight and had dis skebe guy following dis girl. He wen' grab her, she wen' scream, I wen' use my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; Takedown, side control to spinning armbar,... den she wen' pepper spray his face." "Sorry eh, Hawaii Five-O." Be smart Hawaii...
is "Koko Head and Koko Crater." Almost like a sister to Diamond Head. The Head makes up the makai portion, Portlock (million dollar homes) and Hanauma Bay. The crater (more mauka) features a StairMaster like hike, a firing range and a botanical garden. The crater's Hawaiian name is Kohelepelepe (fringed vagina). Hawaiian Mythology: Pele's sister distracted Kamapua'a by sending a levitating labia minora to Oahu from Big Island. Koko Head is where it came to rest. Satellite images seem to confirm this..hahaha...Dan Brown could write a better story.
is "furikake." The Furikake Poem: When Rice is what I choose to eat; With a meal, or as a treat; I look for seaweed and sesame seeds; To bite and crunch between my teet'; 'Cause it's lil'bit sour and lil'bit sweet; And NO make me fut like pork and beans; I Don't put shoyu on my rice!; Or else I get bad looks from Grandma's eyes; I save the shoyu for sushi; And watch the polka-dot smiles on all the Japanese.
is "toe jams." This is Al Bundy kine feet. A combination of suffering equal to (or greater than) a lethal gas leak, drowning at Waimea and having a fat sweaty sumo wrestler use your face as a yoga mat. "Brah, what wen' die?" "I nevah smell nahting." "Someting is hauna....it's yo' feet! Brah, you get toe jams!" "NOT!" "My girlfriend coming ovah, wash yo' feet, befo' she think I own one fertilizer business."
is “Juuuuuuuuice!” Locals are in unison when they suspect some foul-play. Haoles like “Boo!” Locals know the judges (or refs) spiked their drinks, so the cops know where to look. It's a fact that Locals are carefree, happy people that like to live in the moment. So a word to all the Judges and Referees: No Mess with Locals and their SPORTS! No matter if Football, Surfing, Karaoke Contest, American Idol, Merrie Monarch, Ms. Sampagita...we get nuts if you no play fair. This is an example of being "bachi"-ed after a "Juice" call.
is "braddah braddah kine." You choose friends but family you can never choose. If you have friends you so close with, it seems it wasn't by choice (but more by fate, or destiny, or God) that brought you together; like family kine; You know "braddah braddah kine" love and respect. You love'um so much you laugh wit'um, cry wit'um, throw blows wit'um and you still have aloha for them. Get "sistah sistah kine" too.
is "hele on." When you tired talking story and ready fo' dig out. Just say, "Ho brah, I gotta hele on!" Or if you from Hilo, Hele On is the only bus. Local Version of Back to the Future: "W'ot McFly? Make like one bus and Hele On outta here!" "Try help me, Keoki!" "No Biff, Take your fricken' hands off of Lani." "W'ot McFly lolo! No make me bust yo face!" "No Biff! No Ack! I no s'ked you!" Swing...CRACK!
is "obake." Japanese word introduced to Hawaii that now means ghosts. Locals are either spiritual, superstitious, the supernatural, or kooky like the Adam's Family. Locals think fireballs are real, whistling at night summons Night-Marchers, Pele appears as an old woman and ghosts choke us in our sleep. Real/Fictitious? Hawaii has limitless "Obake Files" unlike anywhere in the world. Keep your ti leaf handy.
is "Makiki." The TOWNie-est place in Honolulu. It's covered with apartments, stores and concrete. Although it displays the opposite of Hawaii's ideal living, the people there continue living an ideal Hawaiian life. A keen eye will notice gardens, surfboards, boats, full basketball courts, a skateboard half-pipe under the freeway and families enjoying the grinds on King St. Us Locals..we make it work
is "crackseed." I promise this is the last "crack" word. Crackseed is the local snack that is used to gross out our mainland friends. Entering a real crackseed shop is like walking into a science experiment storage closet (large jars filled with slimy objects of various shapes, sizes and smells). Looks can be deceiving since locals know these small flat pieces of dung-like things are lemon peels and the salty sour ball that taste like acid in your throat is li hing mui. Tell a haole your eating slugs when it's really li hing guava and they might believe you...let them try and they might like it.
is “crack up” or “crack me up.” Any of the follow may occur when you crack up laughing: You laugh so hard your voice cracks and then you sound like a pig. You laugh so hard you crack one fut. You laugh so hard people crack you on the head ‘cause you so irritating.
is “s’ked.” Hard for tell what locals are scared of: BJ Penn no s’ked to fight. Shane Dorian no s’ked charge big waves. Frank Delima and Augie T no s’ked making jokes about local people. Obama no s’ked of politics. And local girls...real local girls, no s’ked nahting! Someone ackin’ up and a local girl starts getting nuts you might hear: “W’ot Brah? I no s’ked you. Let’s Go!”
is “cho cho lips.” Can happen to anybody, not just popolos. No always work for some people, look at people with botox! Full sexy lips can draw attention away from flaws in a supermodel’s face. But chocho lips can betray a braddah in a police line-up, surfing line-up, or worst “yearbook baby pictures.” “Deyah him!” “Das Raymond?” “Yup! Always had doze cho cho lips! Nevah even grow into’um if you ask me.”
is “pilikia.” Pilikia means trouble. If you ever wondered what to say after someone tells you, “Mahalo.” You probably know what to say, just that it was in English: “A’ole pilikia.” Das Right! “No Problem.” Just a Thought: Locals like to tell you it’s no problem even when it might be, so bake them some cookies or treat them to a plate lunch or give them a hug. Hawaii is an island, so we share all our pilikia.
is "hanabata." Booggahz that flow like lava, Wahda, or Ghostbustah-kine Slime. How you dispatch, disclose, or dislodge all depends on age and skill set: Middle-age athletic type uses snot-rocket technique. 5-8yr. olds dig'um and eat'um. 0-4yr. olds let it run until mamma comes (hence the term "hanabata days"). Everybody else bettah be using Kleenex or your t-shirt!!!
is "KONA." Kona means leeward (da side dat NO face da wind). Every Hawaiian Island has a leeward side. All of them are sunny, dry and have pristine beaches. Tourists and Locals love Kona because: not as boring as Hilo; Not Crowded as Waikiki; not as dangerous as Nanakuli; and (even with a Mormon Temple) the people are still down to earth and friendly. Fact: Kamehameha the Great is from Kona.
is "shoyu chicken." Fast, No Hassles, and cheap. In these tough economic times Locals turn to making something out of a box of chicken thighs, water, sugar, some ginger and shoyu (Haole: soy sause). Throw'um in a pot and everything is cherry! Eat with rice, and potato salad for a savory local home-cooked meal. Hint:Eating shoyu chicken with mayonnaise can result in mayonnaise-with-everything addiction.
is "Howzda..?" Good conversation starter. If you want a local's opinion, just ask them. They'll never turn down this invitation. Calling home from the mainlan': "Eh Sis, Howzda family?" Need the surf report: "So w'ot? Howzda North Shore?" "Consensus of the luau food: "Uncle, Howzda laulau?" Draw someone's attention to a scene: "Ho! Howzdakine ovah dea?!" "He bettah run more fast dat pitbull catchin'um up."
is "catch cracks." Cracks is something locals like to avoid. It's usually sore, leaves scars and associated with a story of how you did something stupid. "Brah, Mother's Day my wife wen' ask me to buy her something that went zero to 120 in less den 6seconds. I bought her one scale." "Brah, lucky you only get 2 black eyes." "Yeah, I would've caught cracks if she wen' throw the mini-van at me."
is "girigiri." Applicable to people with hair, kolohe kids, and haoles that think cows lick their heads. Locals have a superstition that the more giri giris found on your head, the more trouble you will be. Get one shoppe out in Haleiwa that can make your hair REAL Nice, "Giri Giri Hair Shoppe," so try Check'um Out and Tell me if Good! Giri Giri is a Japanese word but means something totally different.
is "kapulu." Locals are very visual. To women, looks matter da most. No matter if you making laulau, mixing poi, cleaning house, cleaning yard, folding clothes, sewing leis, or writing yo' name. Just make'um nice. In da end your maddah, tutu, and aunties teaching you how fo' choose one good pahTnah. "Sistah, w'ot you think, I get chance wit' Randall?" "You kiddin'? He like fixing cars, but try fix yo' bondo..stay all kapulu."
is "menpachi eyes." Word to describe people with the eyeball to body size ratio that is same as the fish. Positive reasons to have menpachi eyes: can see what chicks really look like in night clubs, can cheat when you play poker and no need mask Halloween time. Negative reasons: people compare you to Rodney Dangerfield too much and gotta wear sunglasses indoors and at night. Your only hope: Marry Japanese...hope you get Asian-looking kids with big eyes...Good combination!!!
is "Hukilau." means "pull the leaf." A beach on the Northeast side of Oahu, named after the Hawaiian method of fishing done in Laie Bay. Crews would swim/oar nets out to sea and people on shore pulled the nets in. Also known to the old folks as Hamana Beach (after the Laie fisherman, Hamana Kalili: the 2 fingered man who invented the Shaka). The world-famous hapa-haole song was composed due to this experience first held in 1947. "Brah, Hukilau no more fish!" "Brah, Get!
is "miso soup." The cloudy, watery soup packed with green onion, tofu and seaweed. Can be served at any meal of the day. Come in the "just-add-water" packets or start from scratch. Blaine's Drive Inn served a cup miso soup with every plate lunch order. Haole: "Can I have another cup of coffee?" Local: "Aunty, can bring one more miso soup...stay cold today, eh?" "Fo' real, must be 69degrees outside..bbbrrrr."
is "nevah." translates as "didn't" before most verbs. Not that you never did or never will, but you "didn't." Ms. Teen USA Pagent: "NOW IT'S TIME to ask Ms. Teen Hawaii, from Waianae, Oahu...what are THE most profound things you did last year?" "2009 I nevah smoke pakalolo, nevah drink, nevah have sex, nevah get any F's in school...try wait! An I nevah snake any waves from da haoles at Makaha."; )
Local Word of the Day is "stink eye." If a picture paints a thousand words ha'come stink eyes all say the same thing? Like the Goddess Pele about to blow her top...no telling what could happen next. Only thing you do know, it could get ugly. "I thought you said Manoa was a good place fo' live. Ha'come everybody give me stink eye when I walk my dog?" "Das 'cause you no carry plastic fo' pick up yo' dog poop!" "W'ot? I nevah had to before!" "You wen' move from Big Island farm lots, das why."
