What Does Da Kine Mean? 10 Hawaiian Pidgin Words to Know

So, we've covered that there are two official languages in Hawaii: English and Hawaiian. But there's one more strong contender to consider as an official language—Pidgin.

What is Pidgin?

The history of Hawaii involves a mix of many cultures coming to the islands, and this mix is beautifully reflected in Hawaiian Pidgin, a creole language which consists of a mix of Hawaiian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Asian influences. Often, people dismiss Pidgin as broken or uneducated English, but doing this dismisses the history and culture that the language carries with it.

Also, people who say that tend to be kind of racist, so... don't be like them.

Related: 10 Essential Hawaiian Words

Pidgin is great, because the vocab and sentence structure perfectly tell this story of the influx of immigrants and the perserverance of the local culture with every sentence a local person speaks. Ranting about the importance of the connection between language and culture can be saved for another day. Today, let's just address the basic Pidgin words to know if you plan to move to or just be a really cool visitor to Hawaii.

Please note, some of these are English words. English words are used on this list if they have a different meaning in the context of Hawaii.

You like try learn Pidgin now?

Here's the x basic Pidgin words:

1. Da Kine. (da-kine; "i" sound pronounced like "eye". Kine does not rhyme with lean.)

Replacement word that can have many meanings. Most commonly used like "that thing" or "whatsit" or "thing-a-ma-jig".

"You got da kine waterproof iPad speakers?" "Where's dakine taco place we went last week?" or "She one kine cool haole girl."

2. Howzit. (as spelled; from English "How's it?)

Common greeting, like "how are you?" but does not always require and answer like "good".

"Howzit, braddah?"

ProTip: greet people casually with howzit, and they'll wonder if you're from the islands.

3. Haole. (howl-lee or howl-le)

A white person. Does not include people of Portuguese or Puerto Rican descent.

"You see dat haole ova dea?"

4. Shaka. (shah-ka)

Common hand gesture of closed hand with pinky finger and thumb extended. Like da kine, the shaka means many things. Making this hand gesture, known as "throwin' shakas", can signal "hello", "what's up", "cool", and most commonly of all, that someone is taking a photo.

"Ho! Look dat haole t'rowin' shakas ova dea"

Even the Pearl Harbor Survivors t'row shakas!

5. Kanak. (from Hawaiian: kanaka, meaning person, human, man).

Kanak' is a Hawaiian man. I've never heard a white person say this, but I have heard Hawaiian people refer to other Hawaiians this way. Think: strong macho men.

"T'ree big kine kanaks was lookin' for you, bruddah."

6. Local. (English; I've chosen to include this word because it has a different meaning in Hawaii).

A person with some Hawaiian heritage. Local does not mean someone who lives in Hawaii, not even someone who grew up in Hawaii. Local is used to imply that the person is ethnically Hawaiian, and is not used to describe a person who lives in Hawaii.

"A bunch of local guys were speaking Pidgin and I couldn't understand!"

And on that note...

5. Hawaiian. (English).

A person who is ethnically Hawaiian NOT a resident of Hawaii. Hawaiian is a race, and should not be used the same way "New Yorker" or "Californian" is used. This is a common mistake people from the mainland make. It is a personal pet peeve, because it is super ignorant.

"My grandmother is from Maui. She's haole; she has no Hawaiian blood."

ProTip: Do not say "natives". It is not common to say "natives" in Hawaii instead of "Hawaiian" or local. I know that the word native is not inherently racist, but referring to Hawaiian people as "the natives" would be strange to do in Hawaii. It might even make you look a bit racist, implying messages of barbarian people.

Honoring the Puerto Ricans in Hawaii, at Iao Valley State Park on Maui

6. Moke. (mohk).

A masculine local guy. A Hawaiian or Pacific Islander male who exhibits overtly masculine behavior or stereotypically low-class or casual behaviors. The moke probably has a bit bull and would rather be drinking a beer or driving in his pickup truck. He's country, reflecting the same meaning as is used in the mainland US, but the moke is specifically a local guy and is not haole. It is typically used to playfully make fun of someone.

"You one kine moke, bruddah."

7. Uncle/Auntie. (unko, ant-tee; English). A term of respect for elder males and females, respectively. Unlike it's traditional English use, can be used for all elders, regardless of whether any familial relationship exists. Can be used for strangers of no relation to show them respect. Note that auntie is pronounced ant, like the bug, and not aunt like "aww".

"I told the auntie who works at the supermarket that I would be back later today for the cake."

Paddling with my actual uncle.

8. Talk story. (from English).

To gossip, to tell stories, to talk a lot.

"You know dem uncles talk story for hours."

9. Slippahs (from English slippers).

Flip-flops, sandals.

"He one kine moke, bruddah. He stay in them board shorts and rubba slippahs 24/7."

10. Grindz (i like "eye". Grindz rhymes with minds).

Food.

"I travelled the world, but nothing is better than those local grindz."

You got da kine better words den dis right hea? Let me know!

Want to read more about language in Hawaii? Read more:

10 Essential Hawaiian Words (so only your pale skin gives you away as a tourist)

There's loads more, but hopefully this gives you the basic vocab you need to get by while you're in Hawaii, whether it's for a week for for a year!

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