Airport & Customs

1. E hōʻike mai i kāu palapala holo ʻāina ʻē

   E hō-ʻi-ke mai i kāu pa-la-pa-la ho-lo ʻā-i-na ʻē

   Please show your passport

   Usage

   Standard phrase used by immigration officers

   Grammar Note

   Hawaiian follows VSO word order. "kāu" is the a-class possessive (acquired possessions)

2. He aha ke kumu o kou kipa ʻana?

   He a-ha ke ku-mu o kou ki-pa ʻa-na?

   What is the purpose of your visit?

   Usage

   Standard immigration question

   Grammar Note

   "He aha" = what

3. ʻEhia pō ʻoe e manaʻo ana e noho ai?

   ʻE-hia pō ʻo-e e ma-na-ʻo a-na e no-ho ai?

   How many nights are you planning to stay?

   Usage

   Commonly asked at immigration

   Grammar Note

   "ʻEhia" = how many (the ʻokina is part of the word)

4. He mea kāu e hōʻike ai?

   He me-a kāu e hō-ʻi-ke ai?

   Do you have anything to declare?

   Usage

   Asked at customs

   Grammar Note

   "He mea kāu e ... ai?" = "Is there something of yours to ...?"

5. ʻAʻole i hiki mai kuʻu ukana

   ʻA-ʻo-le i hi-ki mai ku-ʻu u-ka-na

   My luggage hasn't arrived

   Usage

   Tell baggage claim staff

   Grammar Note

   "ʻAʻole" = not. "kuʻu" is the affectionate "my"

6. He ukana lima kēia

   He u-ka-na li-ma kē-ia

   This is carry-on luggage

   Usage

   Tell airline staff at check-in or boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   "Lima" = hand. "kēia" = this

7. Ke māʻalo wale nei au.

   Ke mā-ʻa-lo wa-le nei au.

   I'm in transit

   Usage

   Used at transit counters or immigration

   Grammar Note

   "Ke ... nei" marks the progressive. "wale" = merely, just

8. Aia i hea ka puka eʻe?

   A-ia i he-a ka pu-ka e-ʻe?

   Where is the gate?

   Usage

   Ask when looking for your boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   "Aia i hea" = "where is". The rest of this dataset uses the same pattern

9. Āhea e hoʻomaka ai ke eʻe ʻana?

   Ā-he-a e ho-ʻo-ma-ka ai ke e-ʻe ʻa-na?

   When does boarding begin?

   Usage

   Ask while waiting at the boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   "Āhea" = when (future); "Ināhea" is used for the past. Verb + ʻana nominalizes

10. Aia i hea ka hale kūʻai hoʻokuʻu ʻauhau?

    A-ia i he-a ka ha-le kū-ʻai ho-ʻo-ku-ʻu ʻau-hau?

    Where is the duty-free shop?

    Usage

    Ask after clearing security

    Grammar Note

    "ʻauhau" = tax; "hoʻokuʻu ʻauhau" = tax exempt

Browse all TravelPhrases languages