alas

"Alas" is a common Hawaiian Pidgin slang term used primarily by local men and boys to refer to testicles. Derived from the Portuguese word "alhos" (meaning garlic cloves, which visually inspired the slang), it became deeply embedded in Hawaii's plantation-era vocabulary. It is typically used in casual, informal settings among friends, often when joking around, recounting a painful injury, or talking trash. Because of its vulgar nature, it is highly inappropriate for professional environments, formal gatherings, or polite company. You will most often hear it at the beach, on the basketball court, or during a backyard barbecue when the boys are sharing exaggerated stories.

The boys were down at Sandy Beach bodyboarding the shorebreak when the sets started getting heavy. Keoni took off late on a thick one, got pitched over the falls, and slammed straight onto the shallow sandbar. He came up gasping, clutching his board with one hand and holding his stomach with the other.

"Ho, you good, braddah?" Moku yelled from the shoreline, jogging down to the water's edge as Keoni dragged himself onto the dry sand. Keoni just groaned, shaking his head and wincing in pain. "Nah, man," he wheezed, finally catching his breath. "Da board caught an edge and went straight for my alas. I need one minute."