ʻuala kahiki
The Hawaiian word for potato is ʻuala kahiki.
ʻuala kahiki refers to the common potato, which is a starchy vegetable tuber. This term is used specifically to distinguish the non-native potato from the indigenous Hawaiian sweet potato.
Meaning: plant tuber eaten as starchy vegetable (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ʻuala kahiki is used for the common potato, the word ʻuala alone refers specifically to the sweet potato, which is a native staple.
Did you know?
- The Hawaiian word for sweet potato ʻuala may be related to the Quechua word kumar. This suggests that the plant was brought to the islands by ancient voyagers from South America.
- In Hawaiian culture the ʻuala was so vital that it was often considered a sacred crop. This distinguishes the native sweet potato from the later introduced ʻuala kahiki.
- The term ʻuala kahiki literally translates to 'foreign sweet potato', reflecting the plant's status as an introduced species.
Examples in context
- Makemake au i ka poi pōiki.I crave mashed potatoes.
- He ʻuala kahiki kēia.This is a potato.
- Makemake au e ʻai i ka ʻuala kahiki.I want to eat a potato.
- He nui nā ʻuala kahiki i ka pūʻolo.There are many potatoes in the basket.
Example conversation
Noelani and Kai are planning their dinner menu.
- NoelaniHe aha kākou e ʻai ai?What are we going to eat?
- KaiE hana kākou i ka ʻuala kahiki.Let's make potatoes.
- NoelaniHe manaʻo maikaʻi kēlā, e Kai.That is a good idea, Kai.
- KaiE hiki mai i ka pomaikaʻi!Let the goodness come!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “potato” translations and entries ʻuala kahiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kahiki, ʻuala, ʻuala kahiki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
