Sustainability & Eco

1. Ma hea wau e hiki ai ke hoʻihoʻi hou i kēia?

   Ma he-a wau e hi-ki ai ke hoʻi-hoʻi hou i kē-ia

   Where can I recycle this?

   Usage

   Ask where to recycle or properly dispose of materials

   Grammar Note

   "e hiki ai ke" is the ability construction; "hoʻi" means "to return", "hoʻihoʻi" is its reduplicated form "to give back", and "hou" means "again"

2. Loaʻa anei iā ʻoukou nā ʻeke hiki ke hoʻohana hou ʻia?

   Lo-aʻa a-nei iā ʻou-kou nā ʻe-ke hi-ki ke hoʻo-ha-na hou ʻia

   Do you have reusable bags?

   Usage

   Ask if reusable shopping bags are available

   Grammar Note

   "anei" is an interrogative particle; Hawaiian yes/no questions are formed by adding "anei" to a statement

3. Aia anei kahi hale mālama honua e noho ai ma ʻaneʻi?

   A-ia a-nei ka-hi ha-le mā-la-ma ho-nu-a e no-ho ai ma ʻa-neʻi

   Is there eco-friendly accommodation near here?

   Usage

   Look for accommodation that follows sustainable practices

   Grammar Note

   "mālama honua" means "to care for the earth" — a culturally resonant Hawaiian eco-concept

4. Makemake au e hoʻopiha hou i koʻu pahu wai.

   Ma-ke-ma-ke au e hoʻo-pi-ha hou i koʻu pa-hu wai

   I'd like to refill my water bottle.

   Usage

   Ask to have a reusable water bottle refilled

   Grammar Note

   "makemake au e..." expresses desire; "hoʻo-" is a causative prefix, here meaning "to cause to fill"

5. Aia anei nā meaʻai no ka poʻe ʻai mea ulu?

   A-ia a-nei nā me-aʻai no ka poʻe ʻai me-a u-lu

   Are there foods for vegetarians?

   Usage

   Ask whether vegetarian dishes are on the menu

   Grammar Note

   "poʻe ʻai mea ulu" literally means "people who eat plants" — a descriptive Hawaiian phrase for vegetarians

6. Pehea wau e hiki ai e hele aku ilaila me ke kaʻa lawelawe?

   Pe-hea wau e hi-ki ai e he-le a-ku i-lai-la me ke kaʻa la-we-la-we

   How can I get there by public transport?

   Usage

   Ask for directions using eco-friendly public transit

   Grammar Note

   "aku" is a directional particle indicating movement away from the speaker; contrasts with "mai" (toward speaker)

7. Ma hea ka mākeke kūloko kokoke loa ma ʻaneʻi?

   Ma he-a ka mā-ke-ke kū-lo-ko ko-ko-ke lo-a ma ʻa-ne-ʻi

   Where is the nearest local market here?

   Usage

   Find a nearby market selling locally grown produce

   Grammar Note

   "kokoke" means "near" and "loa" intensifies it, so "kokoke loa" means "nearest / very close"

8. E ʻoluʻolu e hoʻohana iki i ka wahī.

   E ʻo-luʻo-lu e hoʻo-ha-na i-ki i ka wa-hī

   Please use minimal packaging.

   Usage

   Politely ask for minimal packaging when buying goods

   Grammar Note

   "e ʻoluʻolu" is a polite request marker; "iki" is a diminutive adverb meaning "a little/minimally"

9. He aha nā hana mālama ʻāina e loaʻa ana ma ʻaneʻi?

   He a-ha nā ha-na mā-la-ma ʻā-i-na e lo-aʻa a-na ma ʻa-neʻi

   What eco-tourism activities are available here?

   Usage

   Ask about activities rooted in environmental stewardship

   Grammar Note

   "mālama ʻāina" ("caring for the land") is a central Hawaiian cultural value, naturally used in eco-tourism contexts

10. Makemake au e hoʻopau i ka haunaele ʻohu o koʻu huakaʻi.

    Ma-ke-ma-ke au e hoʻo-pau i ka hau-na-ele ʻo-hu o koʻu hua-kaʻi

    I want to offset the carbon emissions of my trip.

    Usage

    Express the desire to compensate for the environmental impact of travel

    Grammar Note

    "haunaele" means "disturbance/pollution" and "ʻohu" means "mist/smog"; combined they express carbon pollution

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