July 29th: Laiki

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published July 29, 2026 at 12:00 AM HST

Laiki is how we say rice in Hawaiian. And since we who live in the Islands eat so much of it, you should know how to say it in Hawaiian. Like so many of our newer Hawaiian words, it was borrowed from the English language.

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

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Hawaiian Word of The Day

July 28th: Poʻe

Leilani Poliʻahu

Poʻe means people, persons, even an entire population. The Hawaiian people are called ka poʻe Hawaiʻi. Poʻe can also be used as a plural marker when talking about people, as in kaʻu poʻe keiki —my children.⁠
Hawaiian Word of The Day

July 27th: Inoa

Leilani Poliʻahu

Inoa means name. Koʻu inoa means “my name,” kou inoa means “your name.” So the next time you hear someone ask, “ ‘O wai kou inoa?” Just tell them what your name is.