buss laff

The phrase "buss laff" is universally used across Hawaii by locals of all ages to describe the act of suddenly and uncontrollably bursting into laughter. It is a staple of casual conversation, often heard during "talk story" sessions, family gatherings, or pau hana drinks when someone tells a particularly good joke or an embarrassing story. While perfectly acceptable in everyday social situations, it is generally avoided in formal or somber settings, such as business meetings or funerals, where such an outburst would be considered disrespectful. Linguistically, it is a Pidgin adaptation of the English "bust a laugh" or "burst out laughing," reflecting the local tendency to shorten words and emphasize the action verb "buss" (bust/break) to convey explosive energy.

Marisol stood under her blue pop-up tent at the Hilo farmers market, arms crossed as the rain hammered the tarps. She had the best apple bananas and rambutan on this side of the Big Island, and she knew it. But Sachi, set up two stalls down, was loudly bragging to a tourist that her sunrise papaya was the sweetest in town, claiming she used a secret fertilizer mix her grandfather invented.

Chad, Marisol’s nephew who was supposed to be bagging produce, rolled his eyes. "Aunty, you going let her talk like that?" Marisol just smirked, reaching under the table to pull out a massive, perfectly ripe papaya the size of a football. She marched right over to Sachi's stall, slammed it on the folding table, and sliced it open with one clean swipe of her machete. The vibrant red-orange flesh practically glowed in the gray morning light.

Sachi took one look at the masterpiece, looked down at her own pale, sad-looking papayas, and tried to stammer out an excuse about the recent weather. Chad couldn't hold it in anymore—he just wen buss laff right there in the rain, leaning against the truck tire while Sachi packed up her display in defeat.