Skip to main content

© 2026 Hawaiʻi Public Radio

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Hawaiian Word of The Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day

July 9th: Mele

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published July 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM HST

Mele means "song, anthem, or chant of any kind; a poem; or to sing or to chant."

Mele means "song, anthem, or chant of any kind; a poem; or to sing or to chant." Na mele o Hawaiʻi nei means “the songs of Hawaiʻi.”

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

See stories by Leilani Poliʻahu

More Episodes

Hawaiian Word of The Day

July 8th: Hula

Leilani Poliʻahu

One of the best known Hawaiian words is hula, meaning to dance. Hula is a very generic term for dance. There are many specific types of hula. Don't confuse hula with hulahula, the word you learned for ballroom dancing, and don't say, "hula dancing" – that's redundant.
Hawaiian Word of The Day

July 7th: Muʻumuʻu

Leilani Poliʻahu

The muʻumuʻu is often called the “Mother Hubbard” or loose-fitting dress. Don't confuse it with mumu which is a thud-like sound. The dress is a muʻumuʻu.