September 22nd: Waiū

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published September 22, 2026 at 12:00 AM HST

Our Hawaiian Word of the Day is waiū, for “milk.” Literally, it means "breast liquid," and can also be used to mean "breast."

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

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Dig into the Hawaiʻi Public Radio archives with Derrick Malama and listen to the very best of Hawaiian music. Revisit sessions with Eddie Kamae and Keola Beamer, Raiatea Helm and Amy Hanaialiʻi, and more.

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Hawaiian Word of The Day

September 21st: Ahiahi

Leilani Poliʻahu

Ahiahi, the Hawaiian word for “evening,” is one that calls for a glide in your pronunciation. Ahiahi is that beautiful time of day, the late afternoon.
Hawaiian Word of The Day

September 18th: Alapiʻi

Leilani Poliʻahu

Alapiʻi means stairs, steps, ladder or any ascent. Even a musical scale can be called an alapiʻi mele. Be careful when you walk up the alapiʻi!