Hawaiian Word of the Day: May 1st

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published May 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM HST

Since May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi, there are many lei day pageants happening at this time of the year. Most include a royal court, and a hōʻike — a show! Hōʻike means “to show.”

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

See stories by Leilani Poliʻahu

More Episodes

Hawaiian Word of The Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day: May 16th

Leilani Poliʻahu

Our Hawaiian Word of the Day is mokupuni. It means island, from the word moku which means “cut or severed,” and puni which means “surrounded.” So it's a piece of land cut off and surrounded by water. It is commonly used even in English conversation.
Hawaiian Word of The Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day: May 15th

Leilani Poliʻahu

We told you about ʻelemakule, which means old man, and today's Hawaiian Word of the Day is luahine, or old woman. It can also mean old lady. Both are proper terms, and it is perfectly all right to describe our older friends as ʻelemakule and luahine.