Locals sometimes use the term “mahalo nui loa” (pronounced mah-hah-loh noo-ee loh-ah) which translates to “thank you very much” to emphasize appreciation and gratitude.
As in, mahalo for throwing away your trash and helping to keep our island green and beautiful. To have aloha is to share your life energy with another individual, to make them feel welcome in your home and treat them with respect and love.Ĭommonly confused by visitors for the word “trash” since most trash receptacles have the word “mahalo” painted on them, mahalo actually means thank you. The term aloha has a much deeper meaning and symbolizes a standard for the way of life and giving nature of the people of Kauai. The universal term for greeting one another or saying goodbye in Hawaii. With our help below, you will be speaking like a local in no time.Īloha (hello, goodbye, sharing of spirit and love) Since the workers could not communicate with one another, they began speaking in a broken English, blending words from their home country, which became Hawaiian Pidgin English.īecause of this, it is helpful to know common Hawaiian and Pidgin English words when visiting Kauai and how to use them. Hawaiian Pidgin English was formed during the sugar and pineapple plantation era, when immigrants from Portugal, China, Philippines and Japan arrived in Hawaii and found themselves working together on the plantations.
Hawaiian Pidgin English, a local dialect, was recognized only in 2016 by the United States Census Bureau as an official language that is spoken prevalently in Hawaii. Only approximately 2% of the population in Hawaii can speak the Hawaiian language fluently, although it is not unusual to hear Hawaiian words incorporated into daily conversation. When people think of Hawaii, one of the first words that come to mind is “aloha.” Hawaii is a unique state with two official languages, Hawaiian and English.
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