Dating & Romance

1. He nani nō ʻoe. Hiki iaʻu ke noho ma kou ʻaoʻao?

   He na-ni nō ʻoe. Hi-ki ia-ʻu ke no-ho ma kou ʻao-ʻao?

   You are very beautiful. May I sit beside you?

   Usage

   A natural approach in Hawaiian, reflecting the warm Aloha spirit

   Grammar Note

   In Hawaiian, "He" functions as an indefinite article in predicate nominal sentences

2. Makemake ʻoe e hele wāwae a i ʻole e inu kope?

   Ma-ke-ma-ke ʻoe e he-le wā-wa-e a i ʻo-le e i-nu ko-pe?

   Would you like to go for a walk or drink coffee?

   Usage

   A casual date invitation in Hawaii

   Grammar Note

   "Makemake" is a Hawaiian verb meaning "to want / to desire"

3. Hiki iaʻu ke loaʻa kou helu kelepona?

   Hi-ki ia-ʻu ke lo-a-ʻa kou he-lu ke-le-po-na?

   Can I have your phone number?

   Usage

   A natural way to ask for someone's phone number

   Grammar Note

   Hawaiian adapts English words to its phonology (kelepona = telephone)

4. Makemake nui au e hoʻohana manawa me ʻoe.

   Ma-ke-ma-ke nu-i au e ho-ʻo-ha-na ma-na-wa me ʻoe.

   I really enjoy spending time with you.

   Usage

   A warm expression of enjoying time together

   Grammar Note

   Hawaiian follows VSO word order (Verb-Subject-Object) as its basic structure

5. He minoʻaka nani loa kou.

   He mi-no-ʻa-ka na-ni lo-a kou.

   You have a very beautiful smile.

   Usage

   A natural compliment about someone's smile

   Grammar Note

   "loa" is a Hawaiian intensifier meaning "very / so much". Smile is minoʻaka (P&E: "smile; to smile", lit. "laughing dimple")

6. Makemake ʻoe e hele pū me aʻu i kahi ʻoluʻolu?

   Ma-ke-ma-ke ʻoe e he-le pū me a-ʻu i ka-hi ʻo-lu-ʻo-lu?

   Would you like to go somewhere nice with me?

   Usage

   A gentle date invitation suited to Hawaiian cultural norms

   Grammar Note

   "Pū" is a Hawaiian adverb meaning "together / jointly"

7. ʻAʻole au i hui aku me kekahi e like me ʻoe.

   ʻA-ʻo-le au i hu-i a-ku me ke-ka-hi e li-ke me ʻoe.

   I've never met anyone like you.

   Usage

   A heartfelt expression of how uniquely special someone is

   Grammar Note

   "ʻAʻole" is the general negation word placed at the beginning of a sentence

8. Aloha nui loa au iā ʻoe.

   A-lo-ha nu-i lo-a au iā ʻoe.

   I like you very much.

   Usage

   A direct expression of affection; "aloha" also means "love and affection"

   Grammar Note

   "Iā ʻoe" combines the object marker "iā" with the pronoun "ʻoe" (you)

9. Hoʻohauʻoli ʻoe i koʻu naʻau.

   Ho-ʻo-hau-ʻo-li ʻoe i ko-ʻu na-ʻau.

   You fill my heart with happiness.

   Usage

   Expressing the happiness someone brings; "naʻau" means "heart / gut feelings"

   Grammar Note

   "Hoʻo-" is a Hawaiian causative prefix meaning "to cause/make something happen"

10. I koʻu hele ʻana, e mihi ana au iā ʻoe.

    I ko-ʻu he-le ʻa-na, e mi-hi a-na au iā ʻoe.

    When I leave, I will miss you.

    Usage

    An emotional expression of longing before parting

    Grammar Note

    "I...ʻana" forms a nominalized clause meaning "when/upon the occasion of doing"

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