HAWAIIAN GOODNESS
Even for the Mainlander
VOCAB: Christmas
Mele Kalikimaka!
Below, you'll find Hawaiian vocab related to Christmas! As usual, these words can be specific to the holiday, but also useful for other times during the year. For Christmas songs (traditional as well as unconventional) in Hawaiian language, composed and sung by Hawaiian people, check out this blog post!
Don't forget to check out the prompts at the end to practice these terms, and comment on others' posts in the Forums for further exercise.
Please note that Christmas is culturally a Western holiday, as are many of its activities, associations, and folklore, so Hawaiian (among other languages, especially non-Western ones) will often simply translate literally or transcribe these words (or "Hawaiianize" them).
This includes the name of the holiday itself - the Hawaiian Kalikimaka is actually a Hawaiianization of the English word Christmas!
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Christmas tree = Lāʻau Kalikimaka
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(Electric) Lights = Kukui (uila)
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Ornament = Pōpō wehi
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"Decorative ball"
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Present = Makana
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Wreath / garland = Lei
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Bow = Hīpuʻu pewa
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Stocking = Kākini
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Wrapping paper = Pepa wahī
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Ribbon = Lipine
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String = Kaula
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Holly = Kāwaʻu
Package - Pūʻolo
Box - Pahu
Santa Claus - Kana Kaloka
Cookie - Kuki
Mistletoe - Kaumahana
Snow - Hau kea
Peace - Maluhia, Laʻi
Love - Aloha
Happiness - Hauʻoli
Joy - ʻOliʻoli
Hoʻowehiwehi - to decorate
Hoʻonani - to make pretty, beautify
Hāʻawi - to give
Wehe - to open
Wahī - to wrap; wrapper
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Don't confuse with wehi !
More terms to come each Christmas season!
Prompt ~
1. In the Forum, tell us what festivities you and your family partake in on Christmas Day!
2. Write a post about how you celebrate the Christmas season. What are you favorite songs? What are favorite cookies? Who wraps the presents? What are some traditions specific to you and your family?
3. Do you prefer to give presents or get them? Who do you give to, and who do you get them from?