kakahiaka
/ˌka.ka.hiˈa.ka/
kakahiaka is the Hawaiian word for morning.
kakahiaka refers to the part of the day between dawn and midday. It is also used in the standard greeting Aloha kakahiaka to mean 'Good morning'.
Meaning: part of the day between dawn and midday (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable: /ˌka.ka.hiˈa.ka/.
When do people say it?
When greeting someone in the morning, it is standard to say Aloha kakahiaka.
Did you know?
- In ancient Hawaiian culture, the 'morning' was not just a time but a sacred window for 'pule' or prayer, as the transition from darkness to light was seen as a spiritual rebirth.
- When using Aloha kakahiaka, the 'Aloha' part carries much more weight than a simple 'good', as it conveys a sense of sharing breath and spirit at the start of the day.
- The Hawaiian language often uses 'red' (ula) to describe the morning sky, which carries connotations of royalty and divinity rather than just a color.
Examples in context
- Aloha kakahiaka!Good morning!This sentence shows how to use kakahiaka in a standard greeting.Tatoeba #4913103 by nonong, translation #329713 by YURY0608
- He 'olu nō kēia kakahiaka!This is a pleasant morning!
- He kakahiaka maikaʻi kēia.This is a good morning.
Example conversation
Ikaika and Kiana are eating breakfast together.
- IkaikaHe kakahiaka maikaʻi kēia, ʻe Kiana.This is a good morning, Kiana.
- KianaʻAe, he kakahiaka nani loa!Yes, it is a very beautiful morning!
- IkaikaMakemake ʻoe i kekahi kope?Do you want some coffee?
- KianaʻAe, mahalo, Ikaika.Yes, thank you, Ikaika.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “morning” translations and entries kakahiaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
