How do Hawaiians say Merry Christmas?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 19, 2026
Made famous in 1950 by Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters, “Mele Kalikimaka” is indeed how the phrase “Merry Christmas” was borrowed into Hawaiian.
How do you say Happy Merry Christmas in Hawaii?
Do you know how to wish someone a merry Christmas in the Hawaii? You say, “Mele Kalikimaka.”
How do Hawaiians say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?
As Christmas and New Year are close together, you can even say "Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou," or "Merry Christmas and a happy New Year."
What is a traditional Hawaiian greeting during Christmas?
Most people are used to saying “Merry Christmas,” or “Happy Holidays,” but anyone that's grown up around here says—and hears—the phrase “Mele Kalikimaka” at this time of year.
Is Mele Kalikimaka cultural appropriation?
'Mele Kalikimaka'
There's nothing offensive per se in the lyrical content of the song, but it's always smacked of being an act of “cultural appropriation” to me. The song is — or attempts to be — ”cute,” but it seems to exoticize and trivialize genuine Hawaiian culture.
26 related questions foundHow do you pronounce Bordereaux?
noun, plural bor·de·reaux [bawr-duh-rohz; French bawr-duh-roh].
What does Ohana mean in Hawaiian?
1. nvs., Family, relative, kin group; related. Related: ʻOhana holoʻokoʻa, ʻohana nui, extended family, clan.
What is a Hawaiian greeting?
greeting Pukui-Elbert Eng to Haw ,
Post-missionary greetings include: aloha kakahiaka, good morning; aloha ahiahi, good afternoon, good evening. The farewell greeting was ā hui hou aku or aloha. These were said also for good night, as for leaving a meeting, but not within the home.
Do Native Hawaiians celebrate Christmas?
Families and communities gather in their backyards or at the beach for a festive feast or traditional luau. Christmas for Hawaiians means feasting on a Kālua pig. Kālua is a traditional style of cooking that involves an “Imu” or underground oven.
How do you say Happy New Year in Hawaiian?
Because makahiki also means "year", the Hawaiian phrase for "Happy New Year" became "Hau'oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new)"(how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho).
What is Aloha Kakahiaka means?
aloha kakahiaka / aloha kaka. hiaka / Pukui-Elbert Haw to Eng , Good morning. References: See aloha.
What is Makahiki season?
The rising of Makaliʻi (the constellation Pleiades) at sunset marks the beginning of the Hawaiian new year, known as Makahiki. Makahiki usally begins mid-November and ends in late January or February, aligning with the rainy season. It is a time set aside for tribute, harvest, sport, and play.
How do Hawaiians say hello?
Aloha – Hello
In Hawaii, Aloha means more than 'hello'; it expresses wishes for a positive and respectful life. Use Aloha kakahiaka to say, 'good morning', Aloha 'auinalā for 'good afternoon' and Aloha ahiahi for 'good evening'.
How do you say Santa in Hawaiian?
Even Santa Claus (Hawaiian: Kanakaloka) himself is not wearing his corporate red and white suit, but has swapped it for flowery Hawaiian clothes. Christmas wreaths are made from the poinsettia plant.
How do Hawaiians say happy birthday?
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau ~ Happy Birthday Song in Hawaiian.
Why Do Hawaiians say mahalo?
Mahalo nui (pronounced mah-hah-loh noo-ee) means "thank you very much." And if you really appreciate something, you can say mahalo nui loa (pronounced mah-hah-loh noo-ee loh-wah), which means "thank you so very much."
What does Aloha Nui Loa?
very much love, lots of love.
How do Hawaiians say farewell?
Most people think that “Aloha” is a word that means both hello and goodbye. That is not true, and in fact the true meaning of Aloha is so much more than that. It is true that in Hawaiian we say “Aloha” both when greeting someone and also saying goodbye.
What does Komo Mai?
Mahalo: Thank you. E komo mai: Welcome.
Does Moana mean ocean?
Moana—pronounced “moh-AH-nah,” not “MWAH-nah” means “ocean”—and the character is chosen by the sea itself to return the stolen heart of Te Fiti, who turns out to be an island deity (Tahiti, in its various linguistic forms, including Tafiti, is a pan-Polynesian word for any faraway place).
How do you say home in Hawaii?
Hale means house or home. (Haleakala means house of the sun.)
How do you pronounce Ramblas?
- Phonetic spelling of rambla. ram-bla. rahm-bluh.
- Meanings for rambla.
- Examples of in a sentence.
- Translations of rambla. Japanese : ランブラ Russian : Рамбла Turkish : Barcelona'nın. Chinese : 大道
What is Guichet?
Definition of guichet
: a grill opening (as a hatch or wicket) especially : a ticket window.
What is the meaning of Rambla?
Definition of rambla
1 : a dry ravine in the adjoining rambla the birds assemble in their hundreds — Manchester Guardian Weekly. 2 : a very broad street.