August 24th: Pāʻia

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published August 24, 2026 at 12:00 AM HST

Pāʻia means noisy. It is best known as a small town in East Maui, and because it is so often misspelled, it is often mispronounced.

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

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Hawaiian Word of The Day

August 21st: Nani

Leilani Poliʻahu

Another very commonly used Hawaiian word is nani. Nani means beautiful. It is often used in names as in Puanani for “beautiful flower.” Nani no ʻoe – you are beautiful – is a nice expression we hope you hear everyday.
Hawaiian Word of The Day

August 20th: Makai

Leilani Poliʻahu

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