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: September 26th

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Kāne is the Hawaiian word for man. You see this often in names like Kāneʻohe, which means bamboo man, and in many family names as well. It is also used for: male, husband, male sweetheart, and masculine.
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Hawaiian Word of the Day: September 25th

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Most people who live in Hawaiʻi know what a maile lei is, but it is one of those Hawaiian words that is all too often mispronounced. Maile is a native twining shrub with shiny, fragrant leaves, used for decorations and lei, especially on important occasions. Maile is pronounced “mai-lei,” not to be confused with the Leeward Oʻahu community called Māʻili.