manini (mah-NEE-nee)
sometimes: maninis
Noun A small reef fish with black and white stripes, also known as the convict tang.
"Eh, no worry 'bout dat, brah. Dass jus' one manini problem."
pahu (PAH-hoo)
sometimes: pahu hula
Noun A drum, specifically a traditional Hawaiian drum made from a hollowed log and shark or ray skin.
"Da sound of da pahu beatin make my heart sing."
mauka (MOW-kah)
sometimes: ma uka
Direction Inland, towards the mountains; the opposite of makai.
"We goin' hike mauka today, up to da waterfalls."
manapua man (mah-nah-POO-ah man)
sometimes: manapua truck, manapua van
Noun A mobile food vendor who drives through neighborhoods selling local snacks like manapua, pork hash, fried noodles, and candy, functioning similarly to an ice cream truck.
"Eh, you hear da manapua man comin? I gotta go buy some manapua!"
so ono, broke da mouth (soh OH-noh, brohk dah MOWT)
sometimes: so ʻono broke da mouth, broke da mout, broke da mouth, so ono broke da mout
Idiom Extremely delicious; food that is so incredibly good and flavorful that it metaphorically breaks your mouth.
"Dis poke so ono, broke da mouth!"
popo (POH-poh)
sometimes: po-po, po po
Slang Police officers, cops, or law enforcement.
"Drive slowly, friend, we don't want to get caught by the police."