Talking Story And Small Kid Time: Pidgin English
While Standard English is commonplace, many locals speak a blend of Standard English, Hawaiian, Japanese, and all the other languages that converge in the Islands. The result is Pidgin English. If you listen carefully, in many instances, Pidgin English abbreviates words and phrases with different, sometimes melodic, intonations. It even differs a little from island to island. But, once its part of you, you can always "speak it" again…no matter how long you've been away.
Here are some words and phrases I use that you may encounter during your visit to the islands. Please note that the spelling may not be exactly right as Pidgin has always been just a spoken language (see Peppo's Pidgin to da Max).
In addition, the true Hawaiian meaning may be somewhat different than the meaning presented here. This in no way is comprehensive, but a brave attempt to give you a feel for the wonderfully encompassing, descriptive terms that I grew up with. It is with love and laughter of "small kid time" that this was compiled. It made me realize that my childhood was filled with a warmth and closeness in which general references (da kine, you know) meant that specific words did not have to be said…but everyone knew what you meant.
Aloha (hello/goodbye/love)
Aloha Friday (designated as the day when employees can wear Hawaiian clothes)
Akamai (smart, wise)
Ass why (that is the reason)
Baddah you? (is what I am doing bothering you?)
Brah (brother)
Brok da mout (broke the mouth: so delicious (see Ono below))
Bum bye (later, I will get around to it)
Cockaroach (to steal)
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Da kine (references a person, place, thing, or action that you can't exactly remember)
E komo mai (welcome/come-in)
E, Eh (term used to address someone or get their attention)
Geev'um (go for it!)
Grind (to eat)
Hana go ka lele (You did something wrong; you are going to get it.)
Hana hou (again; one more time)
Haole (foreigner/Caucasian)
Hau`oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)
Heiau (A sacred ancient site. Please do not disturb the placement of the stones.)
Hele (go; let's go)
Hemo (take off; remove)
Holoholo (let's go somewhere fun)
How's it (how are you doing? How are things going? How does it taste?…depends on referent. Must be accompanied by the synchronized lifting of one's head.)
How come? (Why?)
Imu (an in-ground pit in which carefully chosen, heated river rocks are used to "kalua" a pig)
Jan ken po (the game of paper, rock, scissors)
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Kalakoa (something that is of many different colors)
Kama'aina (a local person)
Kalua pig (pig roasted in an in-ground pit (imu))
Kapakahi (lopsided)
Kapu (taboo, forbidden, keep out)
Kapulu (sloppy, careless)
Kaukau (food,eat)
Keiki (children)
Kolohe (mischievous, rascal)
Later(s) (see you later, bye)
Lei (a garland (usually of flowers))
Like Beef? (do you want to fight?)
Lolo (stupid)
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Lu'au (a feast)
Mauka/ma kai (used to orient locals: inland, toward the mountains/toward the ocean)
Mahalo (thank you)
Make (to die)
Malihini (newcomer, stranger)
Manini (stingy, miserly)
Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)
Menehune (legendary small people of Hawaii)
Moke (a big local male)
Momona (fat)
Muumuu (a Hawaiian garment for women)
Nah (that is not true)
Nah, nah, Nah (I am just joking)
Neva mind (that's ok. You don't have to…)
Niele (nosy)
No can (I am not able to/can’t do it)
No ka 'oi (Numbah one, da best)
Not (That is not true)
Ohana (family)
Okole (one’s "bottom")
Ono (delicious)
Onolicious (really delicious)
Opu (stomach)
Pau (finished, done)
Pau hana (finished with work for the day; after work time)
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Pele(legendary volcano goddess)
Pilau (dirty, rotten)
Pilikia (trouble; troublesome)
Pio (put out, turn off)
Play hooky (staying home from school when you aren't really sick)
Poho (loss, such a waste)
Poi (Hawaiian staple made from taro, an acquired taste)
Puka (hole; opening)
Pulehu (to broil over hot coals)
Pupule (crazy)
Pupu (appetizer)
Saimin (noodles in a soup base, usually topped with char siu, green onions, etc.)
Shaka (how'z it?!)
Slack key (a playing style (and tuning technique) distinctive to Hawaii)
Small kid time (when we were young…)
Stink eye (a dirty look)
Talk stink (to say something bad about someone)
Talk story (to talk, chat, gossip about all kinds of things)
Tight (tightwad, stingy)
Tita (a tough local female)
Try (please: Try look, try come, try look, etc.)
Uku (flea)
Ukulele (Hawaiian stringed instrument)
Wahine (woman, female)
Wikiwiki (hurry, quickly)
Yeah, yeah, yeah (yes, I know what you are talking about; I agree)
You know (you understand, you know the circumstances I am referring to)
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Please visit the Hawaiian Language/Pidgin English sites below if this intrigues you. More Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases are defined. Diacritical marks will help with pronunciation. But, to get a true grasp of the language, ask a local to pronounce them for you. While you probably will not get a black eye, you may get a strange look.
http://www.extreme-hawaii.com/pidgin/
http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/o-localhawaiian.html
http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/pidgin/pidgin.html
http://www.eyeofhawaii.com/Pidgin/pidgin.htm
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