Singing in Hawaiian:
Frequently Used Words

1. ‘aeyes
2. ahifire
3. ahiahievening
4. ‘āinaland
5. akuaway from the speaker
6. alapath
7. ‘alafragrance
8. ali‘imember of the chiefly class
9. alofront, face, presence
10. ‘aloto be with, share an experience
11. alohalove, friendship, compassion, mercy; beloved
12. ‘ane‘ihere
13. ‘ano‘idesire (see ‘i‘ini)
14. anucold
15. aoday, light, world, enlightenment; cloud
16. ‘a‘oleno, not
17. auI, me (also wau)
18. ‘auheawhere? listen! (also ‘auhea ‘oe, ‘auhea wale ‘oe - I am calling you, hear me; where are you?)
19. aumoelate night; time for sleeping
20. auwēoh!, alas!
21. ‘eāit is so, that’s it! (in songs)
22. ‘ehuspray, foam, mist (also ehu)
23. ha‘aheopride, proud
24. ha‘inadeclaration (also ha‘ina ka puana, ha‘ina ‘ia mai ana ka puana - the story is told, the song is sung, this summarizes the song; see puana)
25. halehouse, building (see home)
26. hanawork, action (also hana hou - do it again; encore! see hou)
27. hanohanomagnificent
28. hau‘olihappy, joyful; happiness, enjoyment (also na‘u ka hau‘oli - the pleasure is mine)
29. hea, an
30. heato call, name (also kāhea; see ‘auhea)
31. heleto go
32. hikito come
33. hinahinaofficial “flower” of Kaho‘olawe (actually leaves)
34. hoafriend, companion
35. ho‘ito return; word adding emphasis
36. hōkūstar
37. homehome (see hale)
38. honesweet
39. honikiss
40. honuaworld
41. ho‘ohenoto cherish; affectionate
42. ho‘ohihito admire greatly, be enraptured with
43. ho‘okipawelcome, hospitality
44. hopeafter, behind, back
45. hounew, again (see hana)
46. huito join, unite; association
47. hulito turn; to seek
48. ihodown; to go down
49. ihunose; a kiss
50. hulufeather
51. ‘i‘inidesire (see ‘ano‘i)
52. ‘iketo see, experience, know
53. ‘iliskin
54. ‘ilimaofficial flower of O‘ahu
55. inoaname; name chant or song
56. iposweetheart (also ku‘u ipo - my sweetheart;
    see ku‘u)
57. kathe (singular; see ke and nā)
58. kahione, only one, alone (also ho‘okahi)
59. kahikoancient, long ago
60. kāhikoadornment, decoration
61. kaisea, ocean (also makai - toward the sea;
    see uka)
62. kāneman
63. kanisound
64. kapureserved; consecrated, sacred; forbidden
65. kauplaced
66. kāuawe two
67. kaulanafamous
68. kauna‘oaofficial flower of Lāna‘i
69. kethe (singular - used instead of ka preceding words starting with k, e, a, and o; see ka and nā)
70. keikichild (also keiki kāne - boy, son; kaikamahine - girl, daughter; see kāne, wahine)
71. kilakilamajestic
72. kinobody, person, individual, self
73. kūto stand
74. kuahiwimountain (see mauna)
75. kukuiofficial flower of Moloka‘i
76. kulaplain, field, open country; school
77. kupanative; well-acquainted
78. kupunaelder, ancestor
79. ku‘umy, mine (affectionate; see ipo)
80. lāsun, day; over there
81. la‘ipeace, contentment, tranquility
82. lailathere, then
83. lalobelow
84. laniheavens, heavenly; chief
85. lauleaf, frond
86. laweto take, carry, bring
87. lehuaflower of the ʻōhiʻa tree, the official flower of Hawai‘i Island; beloved friend, relative, or sweetheart
88. leigarland
89. leleto fly
90. leovoice
91. lewasky, atmosphere, upper heavens; to float, swing, sway
92. likelike, alike, similar (yes, it’s a coincidence)
93. likoleaf bud
94. loalong
95. loheto hear, mind, listen
96. lokelaniofficial flower of Maui, the damask rose
97. lokoin, inside, within; interior
98. lonolisten
99. lunaabove
100. mahalothanks, gratitude
101. mahinamoon, month, moonlight
102. maitoward the speaker; do not (when preceding a verb)
103. makaeye, face (also makamaka - close friend; makamae - precious, darling)
104. makanagift, present
105. makaniwind
106. makemakedesire
107. makuaparent
108. mālamato take care of
109. māliecalm, quiet, serene
110. malihinivisitor, guest
111. malushade, shelter, protection, peace
112. mana‘othought, idea, concept
113. manubird
114. maualways, ever, continual; to continue
115. maunamountain (see kuahiwi)
116. mewith
117. melesong or chant
118. moanilight breeze; wafted fragrance (also moani ke ‘ala - the fragrance is wafted; see ‘ala)
119. moeto sleep
120. mokihanaofficial “flower” of Kaua‘i (actually a berry)
121. mokuisland, ship
122. muabefore, ahead, forward
123. nāthe (plural; see ka and ke)
124. naheleforest, wilderness
125. nahenahesoft, sweet, melodious
126. naneafascinating, enjoyable (also ho‘onanea - to relax)
127. nanibeauty (describing a person or aspect of nature)
128. ne‘emoving along little by little (also ne‘ene‘e)
129. neithis beloved (following a noun)
130. niucoconut palm
131. nōindeed, very, very much
132. noemist
133. noheahandsome, pretty
134. nohochair; to live, reside
135. nuibig, abundant
136. ‘oeyou (singular)
137. ‘ohanafamily
138. ‘ohumist, fog, light cloud on a mountain; adorned as with lei
139. ‘oibest, superior, superb
140. ‘olucool, refreshing; soft; pleasant, comfortable; polite, kind
141. onaonasweet fragrance
142. onesand; sandy (also one hānau - birthplace)
143. ‘ōpuaclouds, cloud banks
144. pa‘afirm, durable, permanent; completed
145. palicliff
146. paniolocowboy
147. paufinished
148. pilijoined together; a close relationship
149. pōnight
150. poinato forget (also poina ‘ole - unforgettable)
151. polibosom; heart, arms
152. ponoright, proper, righteousness
153. puaflower
154. puanasummary refrain (see ha‘ina)
155. puluwet, moist, soaked (also ho‘opulu - to wet, soak, moisten)
156. pumehanawarm (as affection)
157. punaspring (of water)
158. punahelefavorite
159. punisurrounded; to be fond of
160. pūpūsea shell; pūpū Ni‘ihau (kahelelani, momi, and laiki shells) are the official “flower” of Ni‘ihau
161. pu‘uhill, mound
162. pu‘uwaiheart
163. uarain
164. u‘iyouthful beauty
165. ukauplands (also mauka - toward the uplands, inland; see kai)
166. uluto grow, increase, flourish; grove
167. uluwehilush and beautiful verdure
168. wāperiod of time
169. wahinewoman
170. waiwater, stream, any liquid
171. wailelewaterfall (see wai, lele)
172. waleonly, just, very; without payment, cause, or reason
173. wehidecoration, adornment (see uluwehi)
174. welahot
175. wēkiutop, topmost, summit, peak

and… kaonahidden meaning, as in Hawaiian poetry