Definitions by kmgk
aloha
It’s commonly used by tourists and locals alike as a way of saying “hello” or “goodbye”, but it also means “love”, “respect”, “compassion”, etc. It’s a word that holds high significance in Hawaiian culture.
Hawaii
Hawaii, aka Tahiti but more Asian (seriously, like everyone here is Asian or part Asian).
All jokes aside, it’s a very nice place. People here are generally friendly (with the exception of Waianae) and the culture is very diverse. If you’re going to visit the islands, then make sure to respect local customs and have fun.
It is important to point out that Hawaii isn’t a perfect paradise. There are many issues such as the homeless population and high cost of living. There’s also a lot of tensions between Native Hawaiian activists and the state government. Be careful when bringing up a sensitive issue.
Also, not a lot of people speak Hawaiian anymore, so don’t worry about having to learn a different language. However, I would recommend learning Hawaiian pronunciation since many of the place names are in Hawaiian. For example, “Likelike” is pronounced “lee-keh-lee-keh”, not “like-like”.
All jokes aside, it’s a very nice place. People here are generally friendly (with the exception of Waianae) and the culture is very diverse. If you’re going to visit the islands, then make sure to respect local customs and have fun.
It is important to point out that Hawaii isn’t a perfect paradise. There are many issues such as the homeless population and high cost of living. There’s also a lot of tensions between Native Hawaiian activists and the state government. Be careful when bringing up a sensitive issue.
Also, not a lot of people speak Hawaiian anymore, so don’t worry about having to learn a different language. However, I would recommend learning Hawaiian pronunciation since many of the place names are in Hawaiian. For example, “Likelike” is pronounced “lee-keh-lee-keh”, not “like-like”.
Hawaii is a nice place, although it has issues. Mahalo nui loa for reading this definition. A hui hou!
yobo
Hawaiian Pidgin slang for a person of Korean descent, usually those who live in Hawaii.
It comes from the Korean word “yeobo (여보)”, meaning “darling”.
It comes from the Korean word “yeobo (여보)”, meaning “darling”.
akamai
Hawaiian word for “smart”, commonly used by locals who speak Pidgin, an English creole language native to Hawaii.
Example of “akamai” being used in Pidgin:
John: Ho, you tink you so akamai? (Oh, you think you’re so smart?)
Kimo: No brah, you da one being lolo! (No dude, you’re the one being stupid!)
I don’t really know how to give you an example of “akamai” in the Hawaiian language (not Pidgin) because literally no one speaks Hawaiian anymore. Our knowledge of Hawaiian is limited to three basic phrases and the numbers 1-4. King Kamehameha is not proud. 2/10
John: Ho, you tink you so akamai? (Oh, you think you’re so smart?)
Kimo: No brah, you da one being lolo! (No dude, you’re the one being stupid!)
I don’t really know how to give you an example of “akamai” in the Hawaiian language (not Pidgin) because literally no one speaks Hawaiian anymore. Our knowledge of Hawaiian is limited to three basic phrases and the numbers 1-4. King Kamehameha is not proud. 2/10
Pidgin
Pidgin is a creole language spoken by many locals in Hawaii.
Some people call it broken English, and to that I say: go jump off a bridge.
You’ll find Pidgin speakers of all ethnicities. However, from my experience, Native Hawaiians and Filipinos have the heaviest accents.
Some people call it broken English, and to that I say: go jump off a bridge.
You’ll find Pidgin speakers of all ethnicities. However, from my experience, Native Hawaiians and Filipinos have the heaviest accents.
Okinawa
An island south of Japan and east of China filled with centenarian elders and American military bases. The people living there are known as the Okinawans, who are culturally distinct from the Japanese. They are also the same people who gave us Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid, so thank them for that I guess?
It’s often seen as the Asian version of Hawaii, but don’t be fooled because Okinawans drive on the left whereas Hawaii people drive on the right.
It’s often seen as the Asian version of Hawaii, but don’t be fooled because Okinawans drive on the left whereas Hawaii people drive on the right.