This is pidgin to the max! Saying this one to the wrong person can definitely land you in jail. That’s YOU, brah! An outsider, stranger, tourist, non-islander, they know you! Pronounced may-ly-hee-nee (better get that straight, tourist!) this is about someone that wears water socks and shoes, instead of “rubbah slippahs.” This term should not be confused with make (mah-kay) which means “dead,” i.e. Pau (pronounced pow) generally translates to “no more,” “all gone,” or “time’s up.” The term pau hana means “after work,” and references the best Happy Hours on the islands.

This is pretty much what you say if your vehicle shits the bed. The most common phrase you will hear relating to this word, is “Mahalo for your k ō kua,” which basically means “thanks for your help!” This pidgin phrase is important, because as a visitor, if a native asks for your brief assistance, you should be able to understand and offer it out of respect. K ō kua luau is an extension of the saying, and directly translates to a stronger form of assistance, meaning “to contribute.” The term references the festive traditional gatherings of dance, music, and food called “ luaus“. The Hawaiian slang phrase k ō kua simply means to help or assist. You may see this on local signs here and there.

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