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Hawaiian Word of The Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day: February 10th

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published February 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM HST

Pea ki'i is one way to say teddy bear. And lots of folks are probably shopping for those cuddly little toys as Valentine's Day approaches.

Pea ki'i is one way to say teddy bear. And lots of folks are probably shopping for those cuddly little toys as Valentine's Day approaches.

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

See stories by Leilani Poliʻahu

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Today's Hawaiian Word of the Day is most often used as a place name. Kapiʻolani is a medical center, a tree-lined boulevard, a park, a school, a playground, and so much more. All are named for Queen Kapiʻolani, wife of Kalākaua. Literally, it means “the arch of heaven,” and refers to the beautiful rainbows so frequently seen in Hawaiʻi. Rainbows signify the presence of royalty in old Hawaiʻi.
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Hawaiian Word of the Day: May 2nd

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Kōkua is one of the Hawaiian words most frequently used in English conversation, but it's often mispronounced. Write it down and put a kahakō or stress mark over the first vowel, then say it aloud. It means help, aid, assistance, relief, assistant, helper, and more.