How to Say “Please” in Hawaiian

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e ʻoluʻolu
The Hawaiian phrase for "please" is e ʻoluʻolu.
e ʻoluʻolu is used as an interjection to soften a request or command, similar to 'please' in English.
Meaning: interjection to make a polite request (intj)

What does it mean word for word?

The word ʻoluʻolu literally means pleasant, pleasing or kind. The particle e is added before ʻoluʻolu to form the imperative polite request 'please'.

Did you know?

  • While e ʻoluʻolu is the direct translation for 'please', Hawaiian culture traditionally relied more on tone and social hierarchy than a specific 'polite word' to show respect.
  • The root word ʻolu describes not just a feeling of kindness but also physical comfort, such as the feeling of a cool breeze on a hot day.
  • The word ʻoluʻolu is a reduplication, which in Hawaiian is a common way to intensify the meaning or add a sense of completeness to a quality.

Examples in context

  • Ke 'olu'olu, e ha'awi mai i kāu inoa.
    Please, give me your name.
  • E 'olu'olu, hā'awi mai i ka pen.
    Please, pass me the pen.
  • E ʻoluʻolu, e nānā i kēia.
    Please, look at this.

Example conversation

Koa is asking Noelani for a glass of water.

  1. Koa

    Noelani, e ʻoluʻolu, hāʻawi mai i ka wai.
    Noelani, please, give me the water.
  2. Noelani

    ʻAe, eia nō ia.
    Yes, here it is.
  3. Koa

    Mahalo nui loa.
    Thank you very much.
  4. Noelani

    ʻAʻole pilikia.
    No problem.

Sources

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Leanne Judith
Leanne JudithHelp 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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