Glossary of Hawaii Real Estate Terms

Last updated: 11/26/2009 12:14:23 PM

Hawaii real estate practices have some unique twists and we recommend you investigate before buying or selling. If you are seeking real estate in Hawaii we can help you with information about our sometimes challenging customs. Here's a little guide to understanding some of the terms you'll hear in conversation or in discussing real estate here in Hawaii. Want more information? Call or email us and we'll help translate.

a hui ho (ah hoo-ee ho): Goodbye, until we meet again

ae (aye): Yes

ahupua'a (ah-hoo-poo-ah-ah): Land divisions running from mountain to sea

'aina (ah-ee-na): The land

akamai (ah-kah-mah-ee): Smart, wise

ala (AH-la): Road

ali'i (ah-lee-ee): Chiefs, Hawaiian royalty

aloha (ah-LOH-ha): Greeting, Welcome, Love, Farewell; "The Spirit of Hawaii!"

a'ole (ah-oh-leh): No

auwe (au-veh): Oh no! Darn!

condo-hotel:

E Komo Mai (Eh ko-moh mye): Welcome to our home.

'Ewa (EH-vah): Toward the west and a district of southern Oahu and east of Pearl Harbor; toward 'Ewa Plantation

fee-simple (FS): The best way to own real estate! (here's a more detailed explanation of fee-simple vs. leasehold)

GET: General Exercise Tax

halau (ha-lah-oo): Building for housing canoes or teaching hula

hale (ha-leh): House

hana (ha-nah): Work, do, make

hanai (ha-nye): Adopted

haole (how-leh): Originally a foreigner, now a Caucasian or sometimes refers to a mainlander

hapa (ha-pah): Half, as in hapa-haole or half Caucasian

hapai (ha-pie): Pregnant

heiau (hey-ow): Ancient Hawaiian religious shrine

hele (heh-leh): Go, get moving!

hohololo (ho-lo-ho-lo): To walk, drive, go out for fun

honu: (ho-nu) General name for turtle and tortoise

huhu (hoo-hoo): Angry, mad

hui (hoo-ee): Organized group

hula (HOO-la): Polynesian dance associated with Hawaii

humuhumunukunukuapua'a (HOO-moo-HOO-moo-NOO-koo-NOO-koo-AH-poo-AH-ah): The state fish of Hawaii!

'ipo (ee-poh): Sweetheart

kahuna (ka-hoo-nah): Priest

kai (kah-ee): The sea

kala (KA-LA): Money

kama'aina (kah-ma-aye-nah): Native Hawaiians, old established family, longtime Hawaii resident

kane (kah-neh): Man, boy, husband

kapu (kah-poo): Taboo, forbidden

kaukau (kah-oo-kah-oo): Eat, food

keiki (kay-kee): child, children

kokua (ko-koo-ah): Help, cooperation

kona: Leeward, the side of the island away from the wind; the lee side; winds 'that blow against the trades'.

kuleana (koo-leh-ah-nah): Property, jurisdiction

kumu (koo-moo): Teacher

kupuna (koo'-poo-nah): Elders

ku'u 'ipo (koo-oo ee-poh): My sweetheart

lanai (lah-NY-ee): A porch, terrace, veranda, sun deck, balcony

land court or regular system: (here's an explanation)

lani (lah-nee): The sky, heaven, heavenly, beautiful

leasehold (LH): You rent the land (here's a more detailed explanation)

leeward: The side of the island away from the wind

lei (lay): Garland of flowers, leaves or shells

lolo (lo-lo): Dumb, stupid

lua (loo-ah): Toilet

luau (loo-ow): Big Hawaiian feast

mahalo (ma-ha-lo): Thank you!

mahalo nui loa (ma-ha-lo noo-ee lo-ah): Thank you very much.

makai (mah-KY-ee): Toward the sea, ocean, usually refers to an ocean view

malihini (mah-lee-hee-nee): Visitors to Hawaii, newcomer

mana (mah-nah): Spiritual or divine power

manini (mah-nee-nee): Stingy, cheap

mauka (mah-oo-ka): Toward the mountains, inland, usually refers to a mountain view

mauna (mah-oo-nah): Mountain

mele (meh-leh): Song, chant

Mele Kalikimaka (meh-leh kah-lee-kee-MAH-ka): Merry Christmas!

Menehune (MEN-eh-HOO-ney): Race of dwarfs in Hawaiian legend similar to Irish leprechauns; the little people who were here before the Polynesians

mezzanine level: Usually a second level that opens to the lower level

moana (moh-AH-nah): Ocean

moku (mo-koo): Island

mu'umu'u (moo-oo-moo-oo): Hawaiian dress

nui (NOO-ee): Big, huge

'ohana (oh-ha-nah): Family, extended family

'okole (oh-ko-leh): What you sit on

ono (oh-no): Delicious

pali (pah-lee): Cliffs

pau (pow): Finished, done

pau hana (pow ha-nah): After work

poi (poy): Mashed Taro root

poi dog: Mixed breed mutt

pono (po-no): Goodness, excellence, well being

puka (poo-kah): Door, hole of any kind, or shell

pupu (Poo-poo): Appetizer, snack, hors d'oeuvre (literally 'shells')

pupule (poo-POO-ley): Crazy!

tutu (TOO-too): Grandmother, affectionate term for old people-relatives or friends-of grandparent's generation (According to the rules of language set down by the missionaries, there is no 't' in the Hawaiian language, but who says kuku.)

wahine (wa-HEE-neh): Female, girl, woman, wife

wai (wah-ee): Drinking water

wikiwiki (WEE-kee-WEE-kee): Fast, quickly, in a hurry, (also the shuttle at Honolulu International)

windward: The side of the island that is windy.

If you're thinking of buying or selling kuleana (property) or a hale (home), or know someone who is.. please call. You'll be glad you did. (We still make hale calls.)

808-375-8959

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