How to Say “Plant” in Hawaiian

By Heidi Jean • Updated October 3, 2026

mea kanu

The Hawaiian phrase for to plant is mea kanu.

This verb describes the action of placing something in soil or another substrate so that it may live and grow.

Meaning: to place in soil or other substrate in order that it may live and grow (verb)

Did you know?

The word kanu is a distant relative of the Tagalog word tanim, which can be used metaphorically to describe 'harbouring a grudge'.

Example conversation

Kai and Leilani are gardening in the backyard.

Kai

He mea kanu kēlā?
Is that something to plant?
Leilani

ʻAe, he pua kēlā.
Yes, that is a flower.
Kai

E kōkua au e mea kanu.
I will help plant it.
Leilani

Mahalo, e Kai.
Thank you, Kai.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries kanu, mea, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Heidi Jean

Aloha! I'm Heidi, your friendly island language enthusiast! With a love for the Hawaiian language that's as big as my passion for surfing, my aim is to share the beauty and nuances of this rich language with you. From formal to informal expressions, I've got you covered! When I'm not translating English terms to Hawaiian, you'll find me sipping on a steaming cup of Kona coffee, strumming my Ukulele, or riding the Hawaiian waves. Let's embark on this linguistic adventure together, my friends.

Heidi JeanHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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