Nightlife

1. Aia i hea kahi hale inu maikaʻi?

   Ai-a i he-a ka-hi ha-le i-nu mai-ka-ʻi

   Is there a good bar nearby?

   Usage

   Ask locals for a good bar recommendation in Honolulu or elsewhere

   Grammar Note

   hale inu literally means "drinking house" and is used for a bar or tavern; waihona means "storage" and is not used for bars

2. Ola!

   O-la

   Cheers! / To life!

   Usage

   Hawaiian toast meaning "life" — raise your glass and say Ola!

   Grammar Note

   ola carries deep meaning in Hawaiian culture — celebrating life and health

3. I ka hola ʻehia e pani ai?

   I ka ho-la ʻe-hia e pa-ni ai

   What time does it close?

   Usage

   Ask the closing time of a bar or nightclub

   Grammar Note

   pani means to close or end; e...ai marks future or intended action

4. E lawe mai i kekahi hou.

   E la-we mai i ke-ka-hi hou

   Please bring one more.

   Usage

   Order another round at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   mai indicates direction toward speaker; hou means "more" or "again"

5. Maikaʻi loa ka pō!

   Mai-ka-ʻi lo-a ka pō

   What a great night!

   Usage

   Exclamation to celebrate a wonderful night out

   Grammar Note

   loa is an intensifier meaning "very" placed after the adjective

6. E hula kāua!

   E hu-la kā-u-a

   Let's dance together!

   Usage

   Invite someone to dance at a luau or beach party

   Grammar Note

   hula is the traditional Hawaiian dance; kāua means "the two of us"

7. He aha kēlā mele?

   He a-ha kē-lā me-le

   What song is that?

   Usage

   Ask what song is playing at a bar or party

   Grammar Note

   mele means song or chant — a vital part of Hawaiian cultural expression

8. Makemake ʻoe e ʻai pū?

   Ma-ke-ma-ke ʻoe e ʻai pū

   Would you like to eat together?

   Usage

   Invite someone to eat together at a luau or late-night gathering

   Grammar Note

   pū means together; makes this a gentle invitation to share a meal

9. He wai hua ʻai, e ʻoluʻolu.

   He wai hu-a ʻai, e ʻo-lu-ʻo-lu

   Fruit juice, please.

   Usage

   Order a non-alcoholic fruit juice at a bar

   Grammar Note

   wai means water/liquid; hua ʻai means fruit — together they mean fruit juice

10. E hoʻi kāua i ka hale.

    E ho-ʻi kā-u-a i ka ha-le

    Let's go home.

    Usage

    Suggest heading home after a night out

    Grammar Note

    hoʻi means to return; hale means house or home

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