Aloha kakahiaka
morning greeting, everyday
Aloha kakahiaka is the Hawaiian greeting for "good morning". It joins aloha, a word for love, hello and goodbye, with kakahiaka, which means "morning". It is also called Kakahiaka maikaʻi.
Meaning: good morning (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | Note |
|---|---|
| Aloha kakahiaka | morning greeting, everyday |
| Kakahiaka maikaʻi | good morning |
You can say it to anyone you meet in the morning, from family to shop staff. A common reply is the same greeting, often followed by Pehea ʻoe (how are you).
What does it mean word for word?
Kakahiaka is the morning, so Aloha kakahiaka is a greeting made for that part of the day. Later in the day the word for the time changes, for example Aloha ʻauinalā for the afternoon.
How do you pronounce it?
Each vowel is pronounced separately, roughly ah-LOH-hah kah-kah-hee-AH-kah. The mark ʻ in other Hawaiian words is the ʻokina, a short pause like the break in "uh-oh".
Did you know?
- The word aloha is used for hello, goodbye and love, so Aloha kakahiaka carries a little warmth beyond a plain good morning.
Examples in context
- Aloha kakahiaka kākouGood morning, everyone
- Aloha kakahiaka, pehea ʻoeGood morning, how are you
Example conversation
Leilani greets her teacher Kimo at the school gate in Hilo.
- LeilaniAloha kakahiaka, e Kimo.Good morning, Kimo.
- KimoAloha kakahiaka, e Leilani. Pehea ʻoe?Good morning, Leilani. How are you?
- LeilaniMaikaʻi, mahalo.Good, thank you.
