i'm from norcal so pretty much we say hella a lot. it means very, a lot, or just to throw it in because nothing else works. socal people trip too hard off it.
people from socal are hella stupid for never shutting the fuck up about a word.
SIMPLY:
Contraction of "Hell of..."
MEANING: "A lot of..." but not just in terms of quantity, but also magnatude.
*That greek def. (see above) is insane- whatever... "Hecka" was what a suburban loser from Walnut Creek (or Hayward) might say, simply because the word "Hell" as in "Hell-a" wasn't as commonly permitted in Sunday-school-going areas.
Circa 1980 (4th grade Berkeley, CA):
"His Vans are hella cool"
"Yeah... Jessie's hella fine"
Circa 1987 (B.H.S.)
"That party was hella weak"
"There were hella fools up here"
"He slings hella weed"
Northern California contaction of "hell of". Used like the adjectives "very" or "really", or the adverb "way". Often used by NorCal inhabitants without being aware. Very similar to the "wicked" of Boston. It is now generally only found in the Bay Area, specifically the East Bay, where its use has thrived. Not heard, ever, outside of Northern California.
That chick is hella ugly, dude.
Slow down, you're going hella fast.