fa’amolemole (fah-ah-moh-leh-MOH-leh)
sometimes: fa'amolemole, faamolemole, faʻamolemole
Expression Please; a polite Samoan request commonly used in Hawaii's local communities.
"Fa'amolemole, can I get one mo scoop shave ice?"
hau'oli (how-OH-lee)
sometimes: hauoli, hauʻoli
Adjective Happy, joyful, or glad.
"Eh, you look all hau'oli today, you won da lottery or what?"
high waters (hai WAH-tahs)
sometimes: high water pants, high-waters, flood pants
Slang Pants that are noticeably too short, exposing the ankles; capris or long shorts.
"I goin wear my high waters today, stay hot outside."
vog (VOG)
Noun Smog or haze created by volcanic emissions, specifically sulfur dioxide reacting with sunlight, oxygen, and moisture.
"No can see da ocean, get pleny kine vog."
mongoose (MAHN-goose)
sometimes: mon-goose
Noun The small, weasel-like animal introduced to Hawaii to control rats, commonly seen darting across roads.
"One mongoose just ran across da road"
aiyah (EYE-yah)
sometimes: aiya, aiyya, aiyoh
Slang An exclamation of dismay, frustration, annoyance, or surprise.
"Aiyah! I wen lose my keys again!"