How to Say “See You Later” in Hawaiian

a hui hou
/a ˈhu.i ˈhou̯/word by word
a hui hou is the Hawaiian way to say see you later.
a hui hou is a parting expression used when saying goodbye, similar to saying see you later or until we meet again.
Meaning: goodbye (phrase)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of a meaning until, hui meaning to meet or join and hou meaning again or new, literally translating to until meeting again.

How do you pronounce it?

/a ˈhu.i ˈhou̯/

Did you know?

  • The word hui shares an ancient root with the word for a 'fruit bunch', reflecting the idea of people gathering together like fruit on a stem.
  • While a hui hou is a friendly parting, it is distinct from aloha, which can mean hello, goodbye, love and affection all at once.
  • The word hui is also used in modern Hawaiian to describe a club, association or a formal partnership of people.

Examples in context

  • E hui hou
    Until we meet again
  • A hui hou.
    See you later.
  • E hele ana au, a hui hou.
    I am leaving, see you later.

Example conversation

Koa and Kiana are leaving a small gathering.

  1. Koa

    Aloha, Kiana.
    Goodbye, Kiana.
  2. Kiana

    Aloha, Koa. A hui hou!
    Goodbye, Koa. See you later!
  3. Koa

    A hui hou!
    See you later!
  4. Kiana

    Mahalo.
    Thank you.

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (a, hui, hou) and can differ in connected speech.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries hou, hui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏
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.
guest
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Scroll to Top