Weather & Climate

1. Wela nō kēia lā!

   We-la nō kē-ia lā!

   It's really hot today!

   Usage

   Weather conversation in Hawaii

   Grammar Note

   Hawaiian is Austronesian. "Nō" is an emphatic particle

2. E ua ana paha

   E u-a a-na pa-ha

   It looks like it might rain

   Usage

   When rain seems likely

   Grammar Note

   "Ua" = rain in Hawaiian. "E ... ana" marks future/ongoing action

3. Ke hoʻokokoke mai nei ka ʻino nui

   Ke ho-ʻo-ko-ko-ke mai nei ka ʻi-no nu-i

   A big storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning about an approaching storm

   Grammar Note

   "ʻIno" = storm/hurricane. The ʻokina (ʻ) represents a glottal stop

4. ʻOluʻolu nō kēia lā

   ʻO-lu-ʻo-lu nō kē-ia lā

   It's pleasantly cool today

   Usage

   Comment on pleasant cool weather

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOluʻolu" is a reduplicated adjective meaning pleasant/cool

5. E haʻi mai iaʻu i ka wānana anilā

   E ha-ʻi mai ia-ʻu i ka wā-na-na a-ni-lā

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely asking for the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Wānana anilā" = weather forecast (anilā = weather, wānana = prediction). "Mai" indicates direction toward speaker

6. Pono anei ka ʻaila pale lā?

   Po-no a-nei ka ʻai-la pa-le lā?

   Is sunscreen needed?

   Usage

   Ask on sunny days

   Grammar Note

   lā = sun/day. Hawaii has a very high UV index

7. Pono anei au e lawe i ka māmalu?

   Po-no a-nei au e la-we i ka mā-ma-lu?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Before going out in uncertain weather

   Grammar Note

   Umbrella is māmalu — the kahakō is required. "Rain" is ua

8. ʻO ēhea mau mahina ka wā maloʻo?

   ʻO ē-hea mau ma-hi-na ka wā ma-lo-ʻo?

   Which months are the dry season?

   Usage

   Travel planning question

   Grammar Note

   Hawaii's dry season runs May–October. "Dry" is maloʻo with the ʻokina; without it, malo is a different word meaning "male's loincloth"

9. ʻO ēhea mau mahina ka wā ua?

   ʻO ē-hea mau ma-hi-na ka wā u-a?

   Which months are the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the rainy season

   Grammar Note

   Hawaii's rainy season: November–April. Windward sides receive rain year-round

10. Ikaika loa ka lā

    I-kai-ka lo-a ka lā

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Exclamation about intense sunshine

    Grammar Note

    "Ikaika" = strong in Hawaiian. "Loa" = very/extremely (intensifier)

11. Ka ua

    Rain

    Usage

    To ask about or describe the weather

12. Ka makani

    Wind

    Usage

    To ask about or describe the weather

13. Ka hau kea

    Snow

    Usage

    For snow on the high summits such as Mauna Kea

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