Useful Phrases to Know in Hawaii Part 1: Greetings and General Conversation

[@alexanderweaver4838]

Howzit, bruh? Mahalo for this video. I've been back on the Mainland for almost 20 years and I still greet people here in Virginia with "howzit" and invite guests to sit and eat, "no shame", help yourself. I don't say "grind" because it has an almost sexual connotation here. The shaka sign has been adopted by many people here on the Mainland, especially with us Harley riders as we pass each other. When I arrived at Kahului airport in 1991 I was greeted by several locals who thought I was local. All I could do then was smile and nod; keeping my mouth shut. At the mall I found a little orange covered book that explained the meanings of phrases and words used in the islands. The drawings were hilarious but I learned so much and after hearing it while on the job I began learning it quickly. I was a supervisor at a pineapple plantation and I had to explain to my workers (all brought in from the Mainland, Mexico, etc.) what was being communicated. I've learned several languages including German, Turkish, some Spanish and Arabic while stationed in Europe and in the Middle East. However, the Hawaiian language is such a beautiful language and if I ever return I will immerse myself into it.

[@39forest]

I was born and raised in Puna but I've been gone for 40 years! Every time I go home I want to speak pidgin but know I'll just make an ass of myself. However, I still use words here and there like pilau, niele, kapakahi, etc. Mahalo for the video!

[@vaxyr]

i grew up in hawaii, lived there for 12 years of my life, and watching this video took me back! i miss it there so much. such a beautiful video.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Glad you enjoyed the video 🤙

[@Paint8087]

In Hilo(Big Island) "shootz" can be used as goodbye as well.

[@Luminous808]

Shootz is used in puna too.

[@StyleshStorm]

Yet another thing I took for granted. I'll never have the magical joy to have this face to face ever again.

[@Mikej1592]

I have a weird knack for understanding varieties of English. 23 years of working with mostly foreign engineers will do that I guess. mahalo from Oregon, I Spent a week in Hawaii last week and some things I learned while there, one week is not enough time and the people there are so nice, so much love, peace and good vibes there. I love Hawaii and it's people. Aloha Oe and Mahalo

[@NGriffithinGA]

Loved the "da kine" part!! 😂😂

[@bonamy25]

Awesome. I’m going to Hawaii in a couple of days. Totally going to do aloha when we get on the plane. Da Kine is similar to when we say something like “OG or o’girl/boy etc.” thanks for the help. 🥰

[@skindawgmanson5592]

We took in a nieghbor of ours who is Hawaiian When I was a kid. She became a long life family member. Like a grandmother to us. Sometimes we asked for translation until we were familiar what she was saying. My mother is Mexican and Father from the south. Three accents in our home.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Three accents. That must have been interesting at home.

[@mollyh6943]

Thank you, this is very helpful.

[@nadiaholmkristensen7001]

I had a very fun french class watching this video and learning from it

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Glad to you 🤙

[@ToddAtkinsShow]

Choke is one people need to know for sure.

[@alexcarter8807]

Get choke touriss....

[@JuniorCasipe2424]

Get choke tacomas brah

[@alfreferraro]

Mahalo nui loa!! 😉

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Mahalo for watching

[@coldfusionmusical]

Wow, when I heard the first two seconds of you talking, for a moment I thought it sounded like us speaking English in Malaysia. Hehehe, but seriously, a few moments when you were speaking, it sounded very much like us. You make Hawaii sound like a fun place to visit and for me somewhere where I can feel a bit more like home and not like an foreign, but a lot better. Cheers.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Glad you enjoyed the video. I've never been to Malaysia. Must be nice.

[@coldfusionmusical]

@@HelloFromHawaii hahaha, Hawaii is definitely nicer, more cheerful and fun, we have similar weather but not the same dynamic or atmosphere, we're not an island, though there are some cool islands off the mainland. I definitely feel like Hawaii is a more laid back place than my country, which can be a bit uptight and strict due to religious restrictions, though Hawaii is definitely more expensive.

[@MuditVerma]

Mahalo!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@gabriellebuchheit8387]

Thank you

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@mikemagik5059]

Yes sir

[@deonnnorton9384]

Bumbai- in good time!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

That's a good one. :)

[@38Aly]

Is it OK for military spouses to use native speaking? Or is it offensive?

[@HelloFromHawaii]

You could try to speak pidgin. I know some Mainland people try. I think locals might laugh, but that's okay. At least you are trying and some would appreciate that.

[@The_Experteacher]

Good!! Well done!!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@miriamvillaruz4981]

Oh I miss Hawaii. I should moveback

[@HelloFromHawaii]

You can always visit.

[@peterdods425]

Mainland friend to me on mainland: you want to see a movie? Me: Shootz Friend: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@HelloFromHawaii]

lol

[@SunnyIlha]

Hah! "Eh, no ack lahddat!" Or sumtymes, "No ack laik dat!" (Slightly different vibe, each one) 😆!

[@tracyalan7201]

Just catching this one now. Local as I as am and so is my wife, 'da kind' is the one that gets my goat when she uses it, as its the same as 'da ting'. I always ask for her clarification for 'da kind' and I get 'you know' 'da ting'. So clear as mud.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

😆

[@rayperalta8716]

College, Tacoma, Washington. My friend from Hilo told me one Haole asked my local friend to teach him pidgin. I said “I like see.” So he calls over the Haole and says “try talk pidgin.” The Haole guy looked at me and said, “La dat.”

[@HelloFromHawaii]

😆

[@alexcarter8807]

Shoots! (much more polite than "shit") Bumbai/bum-bye (from "by and bye") Garan's ball-bearins - guaranteed Hanabutta time/hanabutta years - childhood No make A - don't make an ass of yourself Aloha - thing tourists say; locals say "Tanks, eh?" "Hah?" - "Pardon me, I did not hear what you were saying" (tip of the crocheted hat made of yarn with beer can panels to Andy Bumatai for that one)

[@teddcuizon3964]

Pauhana is also a common phrase tourists will hear. Tourists should be warned about "tita" and "mahu" bumbai they'll get one lickin'.

[@hothotheat3000]

Da kine=Jawn in Philadelphia

[@krissyhammouda7956]

Yeah we use howzit on my rez, and skoden, sdothis ahhhhh etc.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@bw5277]

Ho Brah!

[@davidgabrie1302]

This has nothing to do with the video, but I saw the one where your wife talked about being on the Island, how did you guys meet? It’s hard meeting people here, dating sites I’ve tried and no luck, just wondering.

[@huehaiscoville-pope940]

How do locals dress? I've never been to Hawaii, but I have a feeling that tourists tend to stand out just for what they wear.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Yeah, tourists stand out. But then again, they usually come from colder places and locals have a certain style.

[@tracyalan7201]

One suggestion might be to look at how the attire of local community dress (pictures of local people gathering or how people walking around), it gives you an idea of the individual and how they wear the colors and attire fits the person depending on size, shape and skin tone. People wear what is comfortable and complements their style and personality. Native, natural hues are common. It's rare that really flashy bright colors are the overall theme, except for a portion to catch the eye. Asian/Polynesia design comes into play. Look at male Aloha shirt and Muumuu that are top sellers, give a clue as what locals might buy.

[@VidVoyeur612]

Wanna “trow off” someone working the counter at L&L on the mainland? When they greet you with “Aloha!” reply with “Eh, howzit?!”

[@robngoma]

Its the worse when outsiders try to speak local.you wouldnt go to new york and try to speak like new yorkers would you?

[@laladoute1730]

I don't understand New Yorkers, they kinda yell and talk fast at the same time, kinda like the local podagees, just joking lol

[@alexcarter8807]

I know, why in the world would everyone want to sound like a retired plantation worker from Wahaiwa? Why on Earth? Just go, enjoy, leave your money.... and no make A. That's all that's needed.

[@kanoalee3907]

I can appreciate when people use our slang after living here for a while. Just speaking our language and adjusting. It’s the people that get full on pidgin accents after living here for 3 weeks. You can tell when someone is being disingenuous about it IMO otherwise I don’t personally mind.

[@braydenrayden4695]

I wanna move to Hawaii one day. I've vacationed in Maui 7 times in the last 8 years..and am seriously considering moving there once I finish nursing school. But serious question though... How bad are the insects????😅😆 I'm deathly afraid of bugs...and this lady I met there told me it's so bad that you have geckos poop on your bed...and centipedes come in your house !?🤯 WTF. Can u talk to me about insects?

[@HelloFromHawaii]

That's an interesting video idea. I can tell you that we do have geckos and centipedes. After all, Hawaii is a tropical place. But I think most people will comment on the roaches, termites, and ants.

[@robngoma]

its tropical,ofcourse theres alot of bugs!

[@laladoute1730]

Yeah, got plenty bugs, rethink about moving here, especially now.

[@sidjtd]

Geckos aren’t bugs, doesn’t that make it ok? Realistically you’ll never get away from roaches.

[@fishhunt9874]

I lived in Kahului on Maui back in the 80’s. There is no getting away from the cockroaches. Even after getting the house fumigated the roaches are back in days. And another thing, they FLY! I had one fly into my newspaper and land on my lap. Whenever it rained the walls on the outside of the house were covered with them. I think they were fleeing the flooded lawn. We had centipedes a couple of times, about 8-10” long. I do not know if the big cane spiders (as big as my hand) are still around as all of the sugar cane fields are gone. Tropical places have insects, I do not think that they can be avoided. Aloha!

[@georgecurtis6463]

Have a hawaii style food place here in town. Went in when it first opened. Their thing is saying aloha constantly. Drives me nuts. I told them that it was actually insulting. Aloha was not used that often except for special situations, not in normal conversation. Their food is kinda getting better. Back then I told them twice to go to hawaii to see how it's actually made and tastes. That bad. Shootz was not commonly used back in my time. Da kine is the mind reading secret of hawaii. Wife and I still use that. Last but not least is the eh grunt when meeting up.

[@madgepickles]

I was told it's inappropriate and rude to use Pidgin in Hawaii.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Not really. We use it all the time.

[@madgepickles]

@@HelloFromHawaii sorry I meant to say that tourists should not

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Fricking Halole Try Come.😡

[@alexcarter8807]

Dose damn Halole's going on their Holo-Holo-Halole Holidays lol (do the Holo Holo Holiday buses still go around?)

[@georgecurtis6463]

Have a hawaii style food place here in town. Went in when it first opened. Their thing is saying aloha constantly. Drives me nuts. I told them that it was actually insulting. Aloha was not used that often except for special situations, not in normal conversation. Their food is kinda getting better. Back then I told them twice to go to hawaii to see how it's actually made and tastes. That bad. Shootz was not commonly used back in my time. Da kine is the mind reading secret of hawaii. Wife and I still use that. Last but not least is the eh grunt when meeting up.