Electronics

1. Ke kelepona paʻalima

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   Literally "hand-held telephone", built on "kelepona" (telephone)

2. Ka lolouila

   Computer

   Usage

   "Lolo" (brain) plus "uila" (electricity); the loanword "kamepiula" is also used

3. Ka lolouila lawelima

   Laptop

   Usage

   "Lawelima" means carried by hand; useful when you want to work from a cafe

4. Ka mea hoʻopiha uila

   Charger

   Usage

   Literally "the thing that fills with electricity"

5. Ka pākali

   Battery

   Usage

   Also "iho uila"; often shortened to "iho"

6. Ka uila

   Electricity

   Usage

   Originally "lightning"; also the word you need to report a power cut

7. Ke kīwī

   Television

   Usage

   A rendering of English "TV"; the longer form is "kelewikiona"

8. Ka lekiō

   Radio

   Usage

   Also "pahu hoʻolele leo", the box that sends voices; there are Hawaiian-language broadcasts

9. Ka pahupaʻikiʻi

   Camera

   Usage

   "Pahu" (box) plus "paʻi kiʻi" (to take an image); always ask before photographing sacred sites

10. Ke kukui paʻalima

    Flashlight

    Usage

    Essential for night lava viewing and Mauna Kea stargazing tours

11. Ke pihi lohe

    Earphones

    Usage

    "Lohe" is to hear; the same word covers headphones

12. Ka pahu hau

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    Literally "ice box"; handy when checking what a condo unit comes with

13. Ka mīkini hōʻolu ea

    Air conditioner

    Usage

    Literally "machine that cools the air"; many places rely on trade winds and have none

14. Ka mīkini holoi

    Washing machine

    Usage

    "Holoi" means to wash; use it when asking where the laundromat is

15. Ka pūnaewele

    Network / the Web

    Usage

    Coined from "pūnāwelewele", a spider web; Wi-Fi itself is still said in English

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