21 Slang Words You Should Know Before Visiting Hawaii (Part 2)
In Part 1 of 21 slang words you should know before visiting Hawaii, I went over basic, cultural, and dining slang. In Part 2, we talk terms off the beaten path and only in Hawaii.
Off the Beaten Path
da kine – the ultimate catch phrase that can mean just about anything. A smart haole coworker told me “da kine” is an idiomatic expression. Still confused? Let local tweeter @parkrat explain it to you.
lolo – crazy, dumb, stupid.
pakalolo – marijuana, pot, weed. See lolo.
mahu – a male who dresses like a female, a transvestite. Some mahus really, really look like women but remember that they are guys with a da kine.
malo, mawashi, or mankini – these articles of clothing are best depicted.
Malos are typically worn during hula performances, mawashis are adorned by sumo wrestlers, and mankinis are just da kine. In any case, you should not be caught in public wearing any of these.
sukebe – perverted, lewd. If you’re feeling adventurously sukebe in Hawaii, just remember this is a small world and you just might not live down your lolo actions.
Only in Hawaii
brah – Hawaii’s variation of bro/brother and the informal, local-style way of calling someone. A typical Hawaii welcome, “Howzit, brah!” But tourists should not say brah since it just doesn’t sound right. “Brah” is not the women’s undergarment that Victoria’s Secret will soon be supporting the sun-kissed bossoms of the wahine of Hawaii (sorry, did that sound sukebe?).
B-52 cockroach – those huge flying roaches Hawaii is famous for, remiscent of the B-52 bomber aircraft.
fut – fart, pass gas, flatulate. Everyone gotta do it, even Julianne Hough from Dancing with the Stars futs… on live television.
Without futs, how would you do the Dutch Oven?
ainokea – say it slowly, and you’ll recognize “I no care” as in “I don’t care.” This slang phrase has since become a popular brand name seen on shirts and logos around Hawaii.
talk story – to chat, chew the fat, shoot the breeze, converse (special request by KT Cat)
pau – done, finished like this list.
Hope you enjoyed parts 1 and 2 of 21 24 slang words you should know before visiting Hawaii. If not, then ainokea!
21 Slang Words You Should Know Before Visiting Hawaii (Part 1) - Pulpconnection
September 2, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
[…] Continued in Part 2 of 21 Slang Words You Should Know Before Visiting Hawaii. […]
Twitted by geewhy
September 2, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
[…] This post was Twitted by geewhy […]
September 3, 2009 @ 9:48 am
More for Part 3 (all terms I have used recently):
“Au-rite” — If you’re anywhere on the Windward side
“Mean”
“Can/No can”
“Shoots”
“We go” — “Us go” if you’re on Kauai
“No ack”
“Scrap”
“K den”
“Hapa”
“Bobora”
“K-bar”
September 3, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
Coach, thanks for the suggestions (if there is a part 3 😉 ). But um, you gotta start expanding that vocabulary of yours! How are you going to be a positive influence and role model for your youthful team shouting out “We go” for a fast break, “mean” on tough defense, or “K-den” when shaking hands after a game.
September 2, 2009 @ 11:48 pm
More for Part 3 (all terms I have used recently):
“Au-rite” — If you’re anywhere on the Windward side
“Mean”
“Can/No can”
“Shoots”
“We go” — “Us go” if you’re on Kauai
“No ack”
“Scrap”
“K den”
“Hapa”
“Bobora”
“K-bar”
September 3, 2009 @ 8:48 am
Coach, thanks for the suggestions (if there is a part 3 😉 ). But um, you gotta start expanding that vocabulary of yours! How are you going to be a positive influence and role model for your youthful team shouting out “We go” for a fast break, “mean” on tough defense, or “K-den” when shaking hands after a game.
September 3, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
Thought of a couple more…
“Small kine”
“Moke”
“Choke” — ‘plenty’
“Okole”
“Like/No Like” — ‘want’
And to answer your question… It is important for them to be well-versed in the languages of the other teams throughout the state.
September 3, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
GEE to the WHY, another great list — general, yet useful and of course with the Pulpy humor!
September 3, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
Glad you enjoyed the lists. So many more words, but so little time.
Shoots! K den, bumbye!
September 3, 2009 @ 6:23 am
GEE to the WHY, another great list — general, yet useful and of course with the Pulpy humor!
September 3, 2009 @ 8:49 am
Glad you enjoyed the lists. So many more words, but so little time.
Shoots! K den, bumbye!
September 3, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
Thought of a couple more…
“Small kine”
“Moke”
“Choke” — ‘plenty’
“Okole”
“Like/No Like” — ‘want’
And to answer your question… It is important for them to be well-versed in the languages of the other teams throughout the state.
August 13, 2010 @ 12:17 am
Thought of a couple more…
“Small kine”
“Moke”
“Choke” — ‘plenty’
“Okole”
“Like/No Like” — ‘want’
And to answer your question… It is important for them to be well-versed in the languages of the other teams throughout the state.
June 25, 2012 @ 10:07 pm
Thanks! I had a full conversation with a guy about playing guitar. He kept saying “I like see” over and over again. I just thought he was lame. Hahaha Glad to know that I was completely wrong and that that is just slang. : )
June 26, 2012 @ 8:15 am
Hawaii is the state with the Likelike Highway after all 😉
March 23, 2016 @ 11:15 am
Think that haole is always derogatory. If whites had a word to call everyone that was non-white, and we used it like haole is used, it would be a hate crime. It is in poor taste.
September 7, 2016 @ 11:32 am
Thanks for the shout-out!