chichi

The word "chichi" is universally understood across Hawaii as a colloquial term for breasts or breast milk. It is most frequently used by parents, grandparents, and aunties when speaking to babies and toddlers about nursing or feeding. While it is a casual slang term, it is not generally considered vulgar when used in the innocent context of childcare or family settings.

However, using it among adults to refer to a woman's anatomy can be seen as juvenile, overly familiar, or slightly crude, depending on the company. The term has deep roots in the local plantation culture, heavily influenced by the Japanese word "chichi" (乳), which directly translates to milk or breast.

The ceiling fan in Mele’s Ewa Beach living room was spinning on low, barely pushing the warm afternoon air around. Outside, the neighborhood was completely quiet except for the distant hum of somebody’s weed whacker. Ji-Young was stretched out on the carpet, half-asleep after eating way too much of the leftover dry mein from Shiro's, while Trish bounced her fussy six-month-old on her hip.

"Why he so grumble today?" Ji-Young mumbled, not even opening her eyes. The baby let out another tired, frustrated wail, rubbing his face into Trish’s shoulder.

"He just tired and hungry," Trish sighed, shifting her weight and patting his back. "Come on, boy, time for go sleep. You like chichi?" The moment she said the word, the baby stopped crying, his little head popping up as he looked at her with wide, expectant eyes. Mele laughed from the couch, tossing a burp cloth over. "Look at dat, he know exactly what dat means. Go feed him before he wake up the whole street."