Question Words

1. He aha?

   What?

   Usage

   Works on its own; point at the thing as you say it

2. Ma hea?

   Where?

   Usage

   Ask for a place; add a place or object name in front to make a sentence

3. Āhea?

   When?

   Usage

   For departure times and opening hours

4. ʻO wai?

   Who?

   Usage

   To ask who is in charge or whose something is

5. No ke aha?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; in some languages it sounds blunt, so smile

6. Pehea?

   How?

   Usage

   For how to get somewhere or how to use something

7. ʻEhia?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks a count; hold up fingers to confirm the number

8. ʻEhia kālā?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The core shopping question; ask them to show the figure on a calculator

9. ʻO ka mea hea?

   Which one?

   Usage

   When you need someone to pick from several options

10. He aha kēia?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Point at an unfamiliar item in a market or eatery

11. Aia i hea ka lua?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most-used travel questions — memorise it whole

12. ʻO ka hola ʻehia kēia?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Ask the time; having them show a clock face avoids number confusion

13. Loaʻa iā ʻoe?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks about stock or vacancy; put it after the name of the thing

14. Hiki iā ʻoe?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Checks whether a request is possible; also opens a price negotiation

15. He uku kēia?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    For luggage storage, Wi-Fi, or entry — check before you use it

16. He manuahi kēia?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Confirm that a sample, a bottle of water, or a service costs nothing

17. Maikaʻi kēia?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    For asking permission; use it with a pointing gesture

18. ʻAʻole kūpono?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    For double-checking after being turned down

19. Maikaʻi ʻoe?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Checking on someone's wellbeing — a different role from asking permission

20. He ʻoiaʻiʻo?

    Really?

    Usage

    A quick check when something surprises you

21. Paʻa kou manaʻo?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Pressing for confirmation of a fact — a rather formal expression

    Grammar Note

    Literally "is your thought fixed/settled"

22. No hea mai ʻoe?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A natural conversation opener

23. ʻO wai kou inoa?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A natural conversation opener

24. ʻEhia ou makahiki?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asking a stranger's age directly, especially a woman's, can feel intrusive — best kept to close friends or children

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how many are your years"

25. Hiki iā kāua ke kiʻi pū?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    For asking permission

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