Photography

1. E ʻoluʻolu e lawe i koʻu kiʻi

   E ʻo-lu-ʻo-lu e la-we i ko-ʻu ki-ʻi

   Please take my photo

   Usage

   Asking someone to take your photo

   Grammar Note

   "lawe i koʻu kiʻi" literally means "take my image"; koʻu is "my" (singular, o-class possessive). With an article, kiʻi begins with k so it takes ke (KEAO rule — the 1868 Baibala has ke kii 46× and ka kii 0×)

2. Hiki iaʻu ke lawe kiʻi?

   Hi-ki ia-ʻu ke la-we ki-ʻi?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Politely asking permission to take a photograph

   Grammar Note

   "Hiki iaʻu ke + verb" asks "may I / can I" — requesting permission in Hawaiian

3. He nani loa kēia wahi kiʻi

   He na-ni lo-a kē-ia wa-hi ki-ʻi

   This place is very photogenic

   Usage

   Commenting that a place is beautiful and great for photos

   Grammar Note

   "Loa" is an intensifier meaning "very" or "extremely" when following adjectives

4. E hoʻomākaukau i kāu pahupaʻikiʻi

   E ho-ʻo-mā-kau-kau i kāu pa-hu-pa-ʻi-ki-ʻi

   Get your camera ready

   Usage

   Telling someone to prepare their camera before taking a shot

   Grammar Note

   A camera is pahupaʻikiʻi (lit. "box that strikes images"); kiʻi alone means "picture/image", not "camera". Possessions of this kind take the a-class possessive kāu

5. ʻAʻole hiki ke lawe kiʻi ma ʻaneʻi

   ʻA-ʻo-le hi-ki ke la-we ki-ʻi ma ʻa-ne-ʻi

   Photography is not allowed here

   Usage

   Warning that photography is prohibited in this area

   Grammar Note

   "ʻAʻole hiki" forms a prohibition or impossibility: "cannot / not allowed"

6. He nani ke kiʻi o ka moana

   He na-ni ke ki-ʻi o ka mo-a-na

   The photo of the ocean is beautiful

   Usage

   Complimenting a nature photo

   Grammar Note

   "Moana" means "the open sea" — also the title of the Disney film set in Polynesia

7. E kū i ʻō lā e lawe kiʻi ai

   E kū i ʻō lā e la-we ki-ʻi ai

   Stand over there to take a photo

   Usage

   Directing someone where to stand for a photo

   Grammar Note

   "E kū i" forms the imperative "stand at/in"

8. Ua loaʻa ke kiʻi maikaʻi

   U-a lo-a-ʻa ke ki-ʻi mai-ka-ʻi

   I got a good photo

   Usage

   Sharing that you captured a great photo

   Grammar Note

   "Maikaʻi" is one of the most commonly used Hawaiian adjectives meaning "good/great"

9. E nānā i ke kiʻi!

   E nā-nā i ke ki-ʻi!

   Look at the photo!

   Usage

   Showing someone a photo you took

   Grammar Note

   "E nānā" is the imperative "look / observe" — attentive looking

10. Ke pale ʻia ana ka lā; ʻano nani ke kiʻi

    Ke pa-le ʻi-a a-na ka lā; ʻa-no na-ni ke ki-ʻi

    The sun is slightly hidden and the photo looks beautiful

    Usage

    Commenting on natural lighting conditions for photography

    Grammar Note

    "ʻAno" softens or nuances adjectives, like "somewhat" or "rather"

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