try move

In Hawaiian Pidgin, adding the word "try" before a verb softens a command into a request, making "try move" the local equivalent of saying "excuse me" or "please step aside." It is universally used across all demographics in Hawaii, from kids navigating crowded school hallways to adults squeezing past each other in narrow grocery store aisles. While it is generally considered polite and casual among locals, the tone and volume dictate its appropriateness; a soft "try move" is a courteous nudge, whereas a loud or sharp delivery can come across as aggressive or impatient. Visitors should understand that the phrase isn't meant to be rude, but rather reflects the direct yet community-minded nature of Pidgin, where brevity and shared understanding replace formal English pleasantries.

Kekoa was trying way too hard to impress his new girlfriend from Maui while they waited in the notoriously slow afternoon line at Friendly Market Center in Kaunakakai. The older Filipino lady in front of them was taking forever, meticulously counting out exact change for her two cans of Vienna sausage and a bag of taro rolls. Wanting to look assertive, Kekoa sighed loudly, leaned over, and muttered, "Eh aunty, try move already, we get places for be."

The woman slowly turned around, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down. Kekoa’s stomach dropped into his slippahs. It wasn't just any aunty—it was Mrs. Domingo, his boss's mother, the woman who signed his paychecks at the auto shop down the street. His girlfriend physically took a step away from him, pretending to be fascinated by the rack of macadamia nut brittle.

"Oh, I so sorry, Kekoa," Mrs. Domingo said, her voice dripping with enough sarcasm to strip paint. "I didn't realize you was the mayor of Moloka'i now. I go move out of your way so you can go rush to do absolutely nothing." Kekoa’s face burned hot red as the cashier and the three people behind him chuckled. He spent the rest of the transaction staring intensely at the linoleum floor, wishing it would swallow him whole.