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When it comes to language, Hawaii has a dialect all its own - an alchemy of Hawaiian, English, Japanese, Filipino, Spanish, Mexican and other influences. Best known as βpidgin,β the stateβs unique and richly-rooted way of speaking can make for some confusingβand often hilariousβscenarios. Here are some of the best communication mix-ups βmade in Hawaii.β
When first arriving in the Islands, I had more than a few fiascos ensuing from Hawaiian enunciations and/or the interpretations of them. Here are just a few examples of ways I learned that, βWhat you hear is not always what you getβ Β - at least here in Hawaii.
Lesson 1: Itβs βBrahβ not βbraβNot to be confused with racy or lacy lingerie, when you hear the word βbrahβ in the Aloha state, the only intimate thing theyβre referring to here is a brother or friend. So the only βbrahβ you should be making chest contact with are the homies you be hugginβ. Lesson 2: To βGrindβ involves dining, not dancing
Where I come from, βgrindingβ involves bustinβ out some steamy, sexy moves on the dance floor. But when Hawaiians in the Islands are βgrinding,β you can bet those surfers and surfettes are βchowing downβ on good eats like thereβs no tomorrow. Lesson 3: βChokeβ is a quantity, not a felony
Contrary to the way it sounds, βchokeβ does not mean a physical assault. Itβs actually the pidgin word meaning β a lotβ of something, rather than the way youβd like to react when you find your boyfriend cheating on you with your best friend. But I guess you could correctly use bothβand βchoke that man choke, brah!β Lesson 4: βBrokβ Da Moutβ isnβt as violent or painful as it sounds
When I first heard that the sandwich I was about to eat was βbrokβ da mout,β I wondered what exactly in that slider gave it such a menacing descriptionβonly to discover the fact that it was so delicious was the only criteria in achieving such a culinary classification. Apparently, I was learning, whatβs broke in the world of ono grinds (yummy food) doesnβt need or desire fixinβ. Lesson 5: βDirty Lickβnsβ are kid-tested and mother-approved
Surprisingly, in Hawaii, βdirty lickβnsβ are for kids and by parents. Specifically, it means spanking, andβsorry to disappoint someβthe type that youβd find in a nursery, not an after-hours nightclub. Lesson 6: Getting βLeiβdβ involves gettingβrather than giving upβflowers
A Hawaiian lei is a traditional garland of flowers or vines usually worn around the neck and bestowed on loved ones, guests or honorees at special island occasions or celebrations. So when someone speaks of βgetting leiβdβ in the tropics, you just keep your mind out of the gutter and put all misconceptions about any other meaning to bed. Lesson 7: βPu puβ does not mean doo doo
The Hawaiian nickname for an appetizer, snack or hors dβoeuvres, βPu Puβ is synonymous with the Spanish tapa and could range from anything such as cheese and crackers to chips and salsa or sushi. You can imagine this newly arrived transplantβs relief when I discovered that βpu pusβ were delicious things associated with culinary (not bodily) functions! Putting all of this together, if someone says, "Hey brah, like grind? Dey wen' bust outΒ choke pu pu for dis' party! The poki broke da' mout." You'll know you are being invited to eat at a party with good snacks, especially the poki. Regardless of what language you speak, in Hawaii as in all places, suffice to say, choose your words carefully, brah. βAndy Beth Miller Β
