Beach & Activities

1. He kahakai nani loa kēia!

   He ka-ha-kai na-ni lo-a kē-ia

   This is a very beautiful beach!

   Usage

   Express admiration for a beautiful Hawaiian beach

   Grammar Note

   kahakai combines kaha (shore) and kai (sea)

2. Hiki iaʻu ke ʻauʻau i ʻaneʻi?

   Hi-ki ia-ʻu ke ʻau-ʻau i ʻa-ne-ʻi

   Can I swim here?

   Usage

   Ask if it is safe to swim at a particular spot on the beach

   Grammar Note

   ʻauʻau is a reduplicated form meaning to swim or bathe in water

3. Ma hea hiki iaʻu ke hoʻolimalima?

   Ma hea hi-ki ia-ʻu ke ho-ʻo-li-ma-li-ma

   Where can I rent equipment?

   Usage

   Ask where to rent surfboards, snorkel gear, or other beach equipment

   Grammar Note

   hoʻolimalima relates to lima (hand) — extended back and forth to borrow

4. Mālama! Nui nā nalu.

   Mā-la-ma! Nu-i nā na-lu

   Be careful! The waves are strong.

   Usage

   Warn others about strong waves, especially at Hawaii's famous North Shore

   Grammar Note

   mālama means to care for; it is also central to Hawaiian environmental values

5. Nani loa ka napoʻo ʻana o ka lā!

   Na-ni lo-a ka na-po-ʻo ʻa-na o ka lā

   The sunset is very beautiful!

   Usage

   Admire the sunset at a Hawaiian beach with this expression

   Grammar Note

   Sunset is napoʻo ʻana o ka lā; napoʻo is "to set, of the sun" (Ua napoʻo ka lā = the sun has set). nāpili is a kind of goby fish and has nothing to do with sunsets

6. Makemake au e heʻe nalu.

   Ma-ke-ma-ke au e he-ʻe na-lu

   I want to surf.

   Usage

   Express desire to surf; Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing

   Grammar Note

   Surfing is heʻe nalu (lit. "wave sliding"); hōlua is land sledding (heʻe hōlua) and is not used for surfing

7. He ʻehu kai kēia wahi.

   He ʻe-hu kai kē-ia wa-hi

   This place has rough surf.

   Usage

   Describe rough sea conditions or warn of dangerous surf

   Grammar Note

   ʻehu kai describes sea spray or rough water; kai means sea or ocean

8. Aia i hea ka pūnāwai?

   A-ia i hea ka pū-nā-wai

   Where is the shower / freshwater spring?

   Usage

   Ask where to find a beach shower or freshwater rinse

   Grammar Note

   pūnāwai means freshwater spring; used colloquially for beach showers

9. Makemake au e nānā i ka nalu.

   Ma-ke-ma-ke au e nā-nā i ka na-lu

   I want to watch the waves.

   Usage

   Express desire to watch the ocean waves from the shore

   Grammar Note

   nalu means wave or surf — central to Hawaiian surfing culture

10. E mālama i ke kai!

    E mā-la-ma i ke kai

    Take care of the ocean!

    Usage

    A key message of Hawaiian environmental stewardship

    Grammar Note

    mālama is central to Hawaiian environmental ethics — to care for the land and sea

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