kokoleka
/ko.koˈle.ka/
The Hawaiian word for chocolate is kokoleka.
kokoleka is a noun used to refer to food made from ground roasted cocoa beans.
Meaning: food made from ground roasted cocoa beans (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable: /ko.koˈle.ka/.
Did you know?
- In the Hawaiian language, there is no single native word for 'chocolate' because the cacao tree is not indigenous to the islands.
- While kokoleka refers to the food, Hawaii is one of the few places in the United States that grows its own cacao beans for chocolate production.
- The word kokoleka is a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'chocolate', following Hawaiian phonology rules.
Examples in context
- He kokoleka kēia.This is chocolate.
- Makemake au i ka kokoleka.I want chocolate.
Example conversation
Koa and Leilani are at a candy store.
- KoaLeilani, e nānā i kēia kokoleka!Leilani, look at this chocolate!
- LeilaniHe nani ia. He kokoleka paku kēlā?It is beautiful. Is that a small chocolate?
- KoaʻAe, he kokoleka paku ia.Yes, it is a small chocolate.
- LeilaniKūʻai mai i kekahi!Buy some!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chocolate” translations and entries kokoleka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kokoleka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
