pakalolo
The Hawaiian word for "weed" (unwanted plant) is pakalolo.
pakalolo is used to refer to an unwanted plant or a weed.
Meaning: unwanted plant (noun)
Did you know?
- In modern Hawaiʻi, if you ask someone to help you pull up 'pakalolo' in a garden, they might assume you are talking about a drug bust rather than garden maintenance.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, many plants now considered 'weeds' were once highly valued for medicine or weaving and were not viewed as unwanted.
- The term pakalolo is frequently used in 'Hawaiʻi Pidgin', a creole language, meaning it functions more as a social marker than a formal vocabulary word in the native Hawaiian language.
Example conversation
Leilani and Kai are cleaning the backyard.
- LeilaniKai, e kōkua mai i ka huki pakalolo.Kai, help me pull the weeds.
- KaiʻAe, e kōkua au.Yes, I will help.
- LeilaniHe nui ka pakalolo ma ke kumu lāʻau.There are many weeds by the tree.
- KaiE huki pono kākou.Let's pull them all out.
