Word of the Day · Archive
Every word, kept.
Each Hawaiian word we have learned together, with the full write-up still here to revisit any time.
Tap any card to read the full entry — meaning, how to use it, and why the word matters. The list grows by one each morning.
TODAY
LEI
LAY
Garland · wreath · a beloved one — flowers, leaves, or shells strung with care and given as a symbol of affection
June 10
MŌʻĪ
moh-EE
King · sovereign · monarch — the supreme ruler; the title Kamehameha carried when he brought the islands under one crown
June 9
KOA
KOH-ah
Brave · fearless · a warrior — courage of heart, and the great native tree it shares its name with
June 8
MOANA
mo-AH-nah
Ocean — the deep open sea beyond the horizon, the water that connects every island
June 7
HŌKŪ
HOH-koo
Star — the night-sky lights Hawaiians read like a map across the open ocean
June 5
HONUA
ho-NOO-ah
Earth · Land · World — the ground beneath us and the whole living planet
June 4
ULU
OO-loo
To grow · To increase · To flourish — to rise, spread, and come into fullness
June 3
HOʻOMAU
ho-oh-MOW
To continue · To perpetuate · To persevere — to carry something on so it lasts
June 2
OLA
OH-lah
Life · Health · Well-being — to live, to heal, to thrive
June 1
KUPUNA
koo-POO-nah
Grandparent · Elder · Ancestor — the source we grow from
May 31
WAI
WAI (rhymes with “high”)
Fresh water · Liquid · Life — everything that flows and feeds
May 30
KAI
KAI (rhymes with “high”)
Sea · Seawater · Tide — the near ocean, and the rhythm of its rise and fall
May 29
MAKANI
mah-KAH-nee
Wind · Breeze — the moving air that names every place it touches
May 28
LŌKAHI
LOH-kah-hee
Unity · Harmony · Agreement — the balance that holds us together
May 27
ʻĀINA
AH-ee-nah
Land · Earth · That which feeds — the place that holds you
May 26
PONO
POH-no
Righteousness · Goodness · In perfect order — the right way of things
May 25
HOʻOMANAʻO
ho-oh-MAH-nah-oh
To remember · To recall · To commemorate — to cause a thought to live again
May 24
ʻOHANA
oh-HAH-nah
Family · Kin · Belonging · Branching — the people who grow from the same root
May 23
ALOHA
ah-LO-hah
Love · Compassion · Greeting · Presence — the word that opens a relationship and keeps it open
May 22
MAHALO
mah-HAH-loh
Thanks · Gratitude · Admiration · Esteem — the word you say when you have truly received something, and want to give the giving back
May 21
KULEANA
koo-leh-AH-nah
Responsibility · Right · Privilege · The thing that is yours to carry — and yours to claim — at the same time
May 20
NALU
NAH-loo
A wave · To surf · To ponder · To meditate · The same word for water moving and mind moving
May 19
MĀLAMA
MAH-lah-mah
To care for · To tend · To preserve · To protect · To keep something so it lasts
May 18
LANAKILA
lah-nah-KEE-lah
Victorious · Triumphant · To prevail · To conquer · To be too strong for an opposing party
May 17
PIKO
PEE-koh
Bellybutton · Navel · Summit · Crown of the head · Center · End or border · Blood relative (figurative)