Business & Work

1. E komo mai i ko mākou ʻoihana

   E ko-mo mai i ko mā-kou ʻoi-ha-na

   Welcome to our company

   Usage

   Formal greeting when welcoming business visitors

   Grammar Note

   "E komo mai" is the standard way to say "welcome," in keeping with the Hawaiian spirit of hospitality

2. E hoʻouna i ka palapala

   E ho-ʻo-u-na i ka pa-la-pa-la

   Please send the documents

   Usage

   Requesting document delivery in a business context

   Grammar Note

   "E + verb" forms the imperative/request in Hawaiian

3. He aha ka manawa o ka hālāwai?

   He a-ha ka ma-na-wa o ka hā-lā-wai?

   What time is the meeting?

   Usage

   Used to confirm meeting schedule

   Grammar Note

   "He aha" means "what is" — a common question formation in Hawaiian

4. E ʻoluʻolu e kau i kou inoa

   E ʻo-lu-ʻo-lu e kau i kou i-no-a

   Please sign your name

   Usage

   Requesting a signature on a contract or document

   Grammar Note

   "Kau i kou inoa" literally means "place your name" — Hawaiian for signing

5. Ua pau ka hana no kēia lā

   U-a pau ka ha-na no kē-ia lā

   The work for today is finished

   Usage

   Announcing the end of the workday

   Grammar Note

   "Pau hana" meaning "work done" is widely used in Hawaii as everyday slang for quitting time

6. He aha kou kuleana?

   He a-ha kou ku-le-a-na?

   What is your role / responsibility?

   Usage

   Asking about someone's job role or area of responsibility

   Grammar Note

   "Kuleana" is a key Hawaiian concept encompassing both rights and responsibilities

7. E hoʻomākaukau i ka hālāwai

   E ho-ʻo-mā-kau-kau i ka hā-lā-wai

   Please prepare for the meeting

   Usage

   Instructing someone to prepare for a meeting

   Grammar Note

   The "hoʻo-" prefix creates causative verbs in Hawaiian

8. Ke noi nei au i ka hoʻololi manawa

   Ke noi nei au i ka ho-ʻo-lo-li ma-na-wa

   I am requesting a schedule change

   Usage

   Formally requesting a reschedule of an appointment or meeting

   Grammar Note

   "Ke ... nei" is a Hawaiian construction indicating present progressive action

9. Pehea ka loaʻa o ka ʻoihana?

   Pe-he-a ka lo-a-ʻa o ka ʻoi-ha-na?

   How is the business going?

   Usage

   Light conversation starter with a colleague or business partner

   Grammar Note

   "Pehea" asks "how" or "in what manner" in Hawaiian

10. Ua hoʻomaopopo au i kāu ʻōlelo

    U-a ho-ʻo-ma-o-po-po au i kāu ʻō-le-lo

    I have understood what you said

    Usage

    Confirming understanding after a presentation or discussion

    Grammar Note

    "Ua" marks the perfect aspect in Hawaiian, indicating a completed action

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