Directions

1. Aia i hea ka...?

   A-ia i he-a ka...

   Where is the...?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking where something is located

   Grammar Note

   "aia i hea" is the standard "where is" construction; "aia" is an existential verb

2. E hele i ka ʻākau

   E he-le i ka ʻā-kau

   Go to the right

   Usage

   Instruct someone to turn or go right

   Grammar Note

   "e" + verb forms the imperative; "ʻākau" also means "north" but means "right" in directional context

3. E hele i ka hema

   E he-le i ka he-ma

   Go to the left

   Usage

   Instruct someone to go left

   Grammar Note

   "hema" means both "left" and "south" — context determines which meaning applies

4. E hele mua

   E he-le mu-a

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Tell someone to continue straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "mua" means "front/forward"; "hele mua" = "go forward/straight"

5. Aia ma kahi kokoke

   A-ia ma ka-hi ko-ko-ke

   It is nearby

   Usage

   Tell someone the destination is close by

   Grammar Note

   "ma" is the locative preposition; "kokoke" is an adjective/adverb meaning "near/close"

6. Aia ma ka mamao

   A-ia ma ka ma-mao

   It is far away

   Usage

   Tell someone the destination is far away

   Grammar Note

   "mamao" means "far/distant" — it is the antonym of "kokoke" (near)

7. E huli i ka ʻākau

   E hu-li i ka ʻā-kau

   Turn north

   Usage

   In Hawaiian, cardinal directions are often used for navigation

   Grammar Note

   Hawaiian ʻākau covers both "right" and "north", and hema both "left" and "south" (east is hikina, west komohana). pō means "night" and is not a direction

8. Aia i hea ke kahawai?

   Ai-a i he-a ke ka-ha-wai

   Where is the river?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of a river as a natural landmark

   Grammar Note

   A river is kahawai. kahawai begins with k so the article is ke

9. E ʻoluʻolu, e kōkua mai iaʻu

   E ʻo-lu-ʻo-lu e kō-ku-a mai ia-ʻu

   Please, help me

   Usage

   Ask for help when lost or needing directions

   Grammar Note

   "ʻoluʻolu" means "kind/gentle" and is used as a polite request marker like "please"

10. Ua nalowale au

    U-a na-lo-wa-le au

    I am lost

    Usage

    Tell someone you are lost and need help

    Grammar Note

    "ua" is the perfective aspect marker indicating completed action; "nalowale" = "to be lost/disappear"

11. ʻĀkau

    Right

    Usage

    In Hawaiian ʻākau means both right and north; context decides

12. Hema

    Left

    Usage

    In Hawaiian hema means both left and south; context decides

13. I mua

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    To signal "keep going forward" in a taxi or on foot

14. E hoʻi

    Go back

    Usage

    To ask the driver to turn back

15. Hikina

    East

    Usage

    For compass directions on a map

16. Komohana

    West

    Usage

    For compass directions on a map

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