Money & Exchange

1. ʻEhia ke kūʻai?

   ʻE-hi-a ke kū-ʻa-i

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   Ask the price of something

   Grammar Note

   "ʻehia" asks "how many/how much"; "kūʻai" means "to buy/sell" and "price/cost" as a noun

2. Makemake au e kūʻai

   Ma-ke-ma-ke au e kū-ʻa-i

   I want to buy (this)

   Usage

   Express intent to purchase something

   Grammar Note

   "makemake ... e kūʻai" expresses desire to buy; "e" before a verb forms the infinitive

3. He nui loa ka uku

   He nu-i lo-a ka u-ku

   The price is too high

   Usage

   Express that something is too expensive

   Grammar Note

   "uku" = "fee/wage/payment/price"; "nui loa" = "very large/too much" as an intensifier

4. He kālā koʻu?

   He kā-lā ko-ʻu

   Do I have money?

   Usage

   Check whether you have money before making a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "kālā" = "money/dollar" (from English "dollar"); "he kālā koʻu" = "I have money (lit. there is money of mine)"

5. E hāʻawi mai i ka hoʻihoʻi kālā

   E hā-ʻa-wi mai i ka ho-ʻi-ho-ʻi kā-lā

   Please give me the change

   Usage

   Request your change after making a payment

   Grammar Note

   "hoʻihoʻi" is the reduplicated form of "hoʻi" (to return); "hoʻihoʻi kālā" = "change/returned money"

6. Hiki iaʻu ke uku ma ke kāleka?

   Hi-ki ia-ʻu ke u-ku ma ke kā-le-ka

   Can I pay by card?

   Usage

   Ask if card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "kāleka" is from English "card"; "hiki iaʻu ke" = "can I/am I able to" (ability/permission)

7. ʻO ka uku piha kēia

   ʻO ka u-ku pi-ha kē-ia

   This is the full payment

   Usage

   Confirm that the full amount has been paid

   Grammar Note

   "piha" = "full/complete"; "uku piha" = "full payment/complete amount"

8. He aha ke kumukūʻai hoʻēmi ʻia?

   He a-ha ke ku-mu-kū-ʻa-i ho-ʻē-mi ʻi-a

   What is the new/discounted price?

   Usage

   Ask about a discounted or new price

   Grammar Note

   "hoʻēmi ʻia" is the passive "reduced", so "ke kumukūʻai hoʻēmi ʻia" is the price after the discount. hou means "new/again" and carries no discount meaning

9. He kālā ʻole iaʻu

   He kā-lā ʻo-le ia-ʻu

   I have no money

   Usage

   Express that you have no money with you

   Grammar Note

   "ʻole" = "none/without/lacking" — attaches to nouns to mean "there is no X"

10. Mahalo no kou uku

    Ma-ha-lo no kou u-ku

    Thank you for your payment

    Usage

    Thank someone after receiving payment

    Grammar Note

    "no" is a Hawaiian preposition meaning "for/about/concerning" — marks the object of gratitude

Browse all TravelPhrases languages