LANGUAGE

‘Lei’ Men’s Terms

a rhyming Hawaiian primer

source

Aloha — that’s an easy one
Lovely day, to everyone!

Mahalo — a heartfelt thanks
To kupunas (grandmas and -dads)

A hui hou — ‘til I see you
Bye, pronounced “ah-hoo-wee-hoo”

E kala mai — pardon me
I must surf more carefully

Lei — a wreath of leaves or flowers
Oft seen at airport arrivals

Have a poke — “po-kay” bowl
Deconstructed sushi roll

Kahuna — big man on campus
Dignitary, priest … or priestess?

Honu — are those green sea turtles
Who paddle in saline circles

Haole — means foreigner
Can be a mean moniker

Honolulu — sheltered harbor
Grave for many a ship martyr

with a shout-out to Christyl, a true local, and Stephanie, an islander of entirely different seas

Easter Island Dreamin’