Hawaiian Word of the Day: October 18th

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published October 18, 2024 at 12:00 AM HST

Nāwiliwili is a popular though often mispronounced place name on Kauaʻi. It is the site of that island's major sea port. It means “the wiliwili trees.”

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

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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.