How to Pronounce Words in Hawaiian (‘Ōlelo Hawai’i)

Vowels	Pronunciation
A	“ah” like “Car”
E	“eh” like “Met”
I	“ee” like “Feet”
O	“oh” like “Hole”
U	“oo” like “Boot”

Diphthongs	Pronunciation
AE	“ah-eh” like “Wyatt”
AI	“ah-ee” like “Bike”
AO	“ah-oh” like “Cow”
AU	“ah-oo” like “Out”
EI	“eh-ee” like “Babe”
EU	“eh-oo”
IU	“ee-oo” like “Few”
OI	“oh-ee” like “Toy”
OU	“oh-oo” like “Row”

W
In general… If a word begins with “W” or if it follows “U” or “O”, it is frequently, but not always, pronounced as in “Water” (e.g. Wailuku – Wahyee-loo-koo). If “W” follows “I” or “E”, it is usually pronounced as “V” as in “Valor”. (e.g. Ewa Beach — Eh-vah) If “W” follows “A”, it might be pronounced as “V” or “W”. (e.g. Lawa — Lah-vah; Makawao — Mah-kah-wow)

‘Okina

The ‘okina, which is often written with an apostrophe (‘), signifies a glottal stop. The ‘okina breaks-up vowels, so they don’t become diphthongs. It is almost like there are semicolons in the middle of words which separate syllables. The ‘okina can totally change the meaning of a word. (e.g. Lānaʻi — Lah-nah-ee = Name of Island off the coast of Maui; Lānai — Lah-naee = Porch or balcony; Ka’i –Kah-ee = To coach, train, march; Kai = Kaee = Saltwater, ocean water)

Kahako
The kahako is a macron which is written as a line above certain vowels that indicates a vowel that is held creating a stress in the pronunciation of a word. (e.g. Haleakalā – Ha-le-a-ka-LA)

Roles of Paddlers in the Canoe

Seat #1	Stroker (Mua) who sets the pace for the rest of the paddlers
Seat #2	Second Stroker who follows the pace set by Seat #1 and is followed by Seat #4
Seat #3	Part of the Engine Room and is usually also the Caller who does the kāhea (i.e. calls the changes)
Seat #4	Part of the Engine Room who helps to move the canoe
Seat #5	Part of the Engine Room and backup Steersperson
Seat #6	Steersperson (Ho’okele)

Paddling Commands

Walk the canoe forward/ Walk it back	While seated in the canoe at the boat launch ramp, use your hand to move the canoe forward or back along the dock. Don’t let go of the dock.
Paddles on the gunwale	Rest your paddle on the gunwale of the canoe. Almost immediately followed by Mākaukau/Paddles up. Place your paddle with the blade on the opposite side of the person in front of you. Generally, the Stroker will begin on the left, so Seat #2 will begin on the right, etc.
Mākaukau / Ho’omākaukau	Put your paddles in ready position, that is, above the water and prepare to begin paddling. This command literally means “Ready, prepare, able, competent, capable, handy, efficient, proficient, versed, adept, skilled, qualified; to make ready, to prepare.” As you put your paddle and yourself in ready position, you can respond, “‘Ae,” (pronounced, “eye”) “Yes, consent, agree, approve, confirm.”
Paddles up / Hoe hapai	See Mākaukau / Ho’omākaukau
Huki	“To pull.” Begin paddling.
Hit	Begin paddling or take only 1 stroke if you are doing Hit Drills
Hut/Ho	The kāhea said by the Caller (usually the paddler in Seat #3) to initiate everyone changing sides on which they are paddling. After you hear “Hut,” generally said that the top of a stroke, respond by saying, “Ho,” as you take one more stroke on the side of which you are currently paddling. Then immediately switch sides.
Lawa	Stop paddling. Literally, “enough, sufficient, adequate.”
Hold water	An action to stop the canoe from moving. Plant your paddle in the water on the left side of the canoe with the blade perpendicular to the gunwale.
Back paddle	Stroke on the left side of the canoe starting from the back and moving towards the front. Stay in time with the Stroker.
Buck it over	This action moves the canoe laterally to the right. Place your paddle in the water against the left side of the canoe with the blade parallel to the gunwale. Then push your paddle to the left towards the ama.
Kahi	Literally, “to cut.” Place your paddle in the water away from the canoe with the blade parallel to the gunwale. Then, push the blade under the canoe. This draw stroke is generally done by Seats #1 & #2 and usually on the left. On the Steerperson’s command, it could occasionally be done by Seat #1 on the right while everyone else leans left.
Draw	See Kahi. The Steersperson will usually indicate which side to stroke, e.g. “Draw left” or “Draw right.”
Power up / Dig in	Put more pressure on the blade; bring your paddling effort up to 100% power. This command is often used when the Steersperson is fighting strong wind or current to make a turn or maneuver to the dock.
Everyone on the left	All paddlers paddle on the left side of the canoe. If you are already paddling on the left side, stay there; if you are paddling on the right side, immediately switch over to the left. This command is used to put more pressure on the ama and make the canoe more stable usually when making a turn in choppy water.
Mahalo	Literally, “gratitude; to give thanks.” Done at the end of practice when the canoe returns to the dock. The Steersperson will count to three (in English or Hawaiian) and everyone is invited to express gratitude for a safe paddle by saying “Mahalo” often accompanied by tapping tenderly on the side of the canoe.
Post	Reach out and place your paddle in the water on the left side of the canoe away from the gunwale. Your blade should be parallel to the side of the canoe or slightly turned out. This is can be done by the Stroker to help turn the canoe left or by the Steersperson to turn the canoe right. If the Steersperson has to do a hard poke on the right, Seat #5 may be asked to post on the left.
Kau	Literally, “to put, to set, to place.” See Post.
Une	Literally, “to lever.” Generally, this is done by Seat #1 to assist the Steersperson in turning the canoe around a flag during a sprint race. Seat #1, places the blade of his or her paddle against the right side of the canoe parallel to the gunwale. This is similar to when the Steersperson pokes to turn the canoe.
I mua (Imua)	Literally, “to go forward, progress.” Everyone paddles forward. This command is usually given after the canoe has made a turn around a flag during a sprint race and the Steersperson wants the canoe to go straight.
Poke	Place your paddle flat against the side of the canoe. If done by the Steersperson to turn the canoe, try to angle the blade forward. See Une above done by Seat #2 during a sprint turn.

Hawaiian Words

‘Ae	Yes, consent, agree, approve, confirm.
Akamai	Wisdom, skill; wise, smart, skillful
ʻĀkau	Right, right side; north, nothern
Aloha	Love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, loved one; beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable; to love, be fond of; to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection; to venerate; to remember with affection; to greet, hail. Greetings! Hello! Good-bye! Farewell!
Hele	To go, move, walk, act.
Hele Mai	Come towards me
Hema	Left, left side; south, southern
Hikina	East, eastern
Hoe	Paddle
Ho’okele	Steersperson, navigator; Seat #6
Huli	To flip or turn over
‘Ike	To see, perceive, recognize, feel, experience, show, make known, display, announce, notify, inform, reveal; knowledge, understanding, learning
Kāhea	To call, cry out. This is what we refer to as “calling the changes,” i.e. “Hut! Ho!” usually said by Seat #3.
Kai	Saltwater, ocean water, sea
Ka’i	To train (for as for racing), lead, direct, lift up, carry, march in a procession; coach
Kialoa	A long, light, and beautifully finished canoe; a tall, well-proportioned, beautiful woman
Komohana	West, western
Ku’au	Shaft of the paddle
Kuleana	Responsibility (often within a reciprocal relationship)
Kupuna	Ancestor, grandparent, respected elder regardless of familial relation; starting point, source
Laulau	Blade of the paddle
Lima	Hand, arm, finger; sleeve
Lua	Toilet or restroom
Mahalo	“Thank you!” Gratitude, admiration, praise, esteem, regards, respects; to admire, praise, appreciate, thank
Maika’i	Good, fine, all right, well
Maka	Eye
Mālama	To take care of, tend, attend, care for, preserve, protect
Mauna	Mountain
Mele	Song, anthem, or chant of any kind; poem, poetry; to sing, chant
Moana	Ocean, open sea, lake
Mua	Seat #1, the Stroker. Literally, “before, ahead, forward, in advance, future, front, first, former, foremost, primary, principal.”
‘Ohana	Family
Oli	Chant that was not danced to, especially with prolonged phrases chanted in one breath; joy, exultation, gladness, delight, pleasure, rejoice
Pau	Done, finished, completed, ended, terminated
Pōheoheo	T-grip knob at the top of the paddle
Pono	Goodness, uprightness, morality, moral qualities, correct or proper procedure, excellence, well-being, equity, true condition or nature, duty; moral, fitting, proper, righteous, right, upright, just, virtuous, fair, beneficial, successful, in perfect order, accurate, correct, eased, relieved; should, ought, must, necessary
Pule	Prayer; to pray
Wa’a	A general word for canoe
Wa’a Kaukahi	Single hull canoe with one outrigger
Wa’a Kaulua	Double hull canoe

Parts of the Canoe & Paddle

The image above is from the Kihei Canoe Club.

Wa’a	General word for “Canoe”
Wa’a Kaukahi	Single hull canoe with one outrigger
Ama	Outrigger float
‘Iako	Wooden boom that connects the main hull of the canoe to the ama
Muku	The end of the ‘iako on the right side of the canoe
‘Aha	Rope, cord
Kaula Likini	Rigging; lashings
Kino/Ka’ele	Hull; “body” of the canoe
Wae	Spreaders on which the ‘iakos are attached to the hull
Noho	Seat
Ihu Wa’a	Bow (front end of the canoe)
Manu Ihu	Nose, forward piece of the canoe
Pale Kai	Splash guard to divert waves from going into the canoe; don’t hold when you are moving or lifting the canoe
Hope Wa’a	Stern (back end of the canoe)
Manu Hope	Tail, aft piece of the canoe
Hoe	Paddle
Laulau	Blade
Ku’au	Shaft
Pōheoheo	T-grip knob at the top of the paddle

Image from Pa’a Pono Miloli’i

Nautical Terms

Bow (Forward)	Front or “nose” of the vessel
Stern (Aft)	Back or “tail” of the vessel
Starboard	The right side of the vessel (if you are at the ship’s wheel)
Port	The left side of the vessel (if you are at the ship’s wheel)
Gunwale (pronounced Gun’l)	The upper edge of a vessel’s side
Head	Restroom