Can we all agree that birthday phrases in all languages are phenomenal? Especially the Hawaiian version of happy birthday. Although Hawaii is an endangered official language, It carries a pleasant sound when spoken.
From the sweet words that sound like endearment to the mind-blowing gestures and the kind of gifts that comes with celebrating birthdays in traditional Hawaii, it’s worth saying that these celebrations are truly worth every dime spent on hosting a Hawaiian Birthday party.
So, if the birthday of a loved one (crush, child, role model, or even a cherished employee or boss) is approaching, learning how to say happy birthday in Hawaiian will pass your message that you deeply appreciate their presence in your life.
Fortunately, by reading this blog post, you will know how to pronounce & speak several happy birthday phrases in Hawaii and even sing some traditional birthday songs. The pronunciations are well broken. So don’t worry; with a few tries, you will confidently show the birthday celebrant how much you value their existence.
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How to Say Happy Birthday in Hawaiian
Before you attend a Hawaii-themed birthday party or host one, ensure that you can, at the very least, express your wishes in a Hawaiian phrase. Doing this will help enforce your actions as genuine and the birthday celebrant will surely accept your birthday wishes as extra special.
Here’s a quick tabled tutorial on how to say happy birthday in Hawaiian:
| Hawaii Word | Pronunciation | Meaning in English |
| Hauʻoli lā hānau | how-oh-lee lah hah-nah-oo | Happy birthday |
| E ku ʻoe e hauʻoli lā hānau | Eh ku oo eh how- oh-lee lah hah-nah-oo | I hope you have a happy birthday |
| Ke ho‘olaule‘a nei ‘oe i kou lā hānau i kēia lā | Ke oh-oo-la-who-le-ah niee oo ee ku lah hah-nah-oo ee key-eah lah | It’s a good day to celebrate |
| Hui hou ka manawa e hānau ai | Eoo oh ka mah-nah-wah a hah-nah-oo ahe | May the time come again for celebrating your birthday |
| Eia kekahi la hānau lā | Ae-ah ka-kah-ee lah hah-nah-oo laah | This is one special birthday |
| E hau‘oli lā hānau maika‘i loa | A how-oh-lee lah hah-nah-oo mah-ee-kah-ee loh-ah | Have a very happy birthday |
| Hau‘oli lā hānau pōmaika‘i | How-oh-lee lah hah-nah-oo poh-mah-ee-kah-ee | Happy blessed birthday |
| Na ke Akua i hoʻopōmaikaʻi iā ʻoe i kēia lā hānau | Nah kee ah-ooah ee oo-oh-pio-mah-ee-kah-ee eah oo key-eah lah lah hah-nah-oo | God blessed you with this birthday |
Why Is Singing Happy Birthday So Important?
Everyone loves a little bit of rhythm. So the birthday celebrant would definitely love to hear this heavenly-sounding language in a flowing musical tone. Also, singing the Hawaii happy birthday song will make native Hawaiians feel respected and heard. After all, their language is going extinct.
If you want the birthday celebrant or the party attendant to feel happiness, singing happy birthday in Hawaiian will bring that rush of air that will embrace them in joy.
Don’t know how to sing it? Learn how to pronounce and sing the Hawaii birthday song through this Hawaiian birthday musical.
When you go as far as learning to sing Hawaiian, you encourage humanity by keeping the language (the hearts of several natives) alive. It may seem small, but every bit counts in preserving and celebrating Hawaiian culture.
Read Also: How to Wish Happy Birthday in Italian
Fun Games and Activities That Will Help Add Spice to Your Hawaiian-Themed Birthday Party
Hawaii culture is known to have several fun and eccentric activities. These nostalgic activities will add some extra excitement and Hawaiian flavor to any birthday party. He manawa maikaʻi e hoʻolauleʻa ai! (Have a nice time celebrating!)
- The Customary kiss: In Hawaii, it is customary to give a kiss on the cheek and a hug when saying “happy birthday!” or singing the Hawaiian birthday song.
- Customary gifting: In Hawaiian birthday tradition, gifting a lei, an artistic piece of jewelry made of any material, is commonly practiced. So, if you want to wish someone a happy birthday in Hawaiian culture, pair your greeting with a beautiful lei.
- Limbo: Limbo is a game that involves the participant passing underneath a bamboo stick secured between two poles. However, they must dance and not allow their body to touch the bamboo stick while passing underneath it.
- Hula Hoop Contest: You add fun and happiness to the birthday party with the hula hoop contest. Here, participants are to showcase their hoop skills and compete to conclude who can keep the hula hoop spinning the longest.
- Hawaiian Music Bingo: You can host this musical activity in two ways. In the first case, create bingo cards with popular Hawaiian songs and have guests mark off each song as it plays. In the second case, invite a DJ to play 75 Hawaiian songs that guests can guess and dance to.
- Ukulele Lessons: The Ukulele is easy to handle and learn, so bringing in a local musician to teach how to play the ukulele will add more life and fun. Ensure the local musician agrees to teach interested guests.
Other Useful Words for a Hawaiian Party are in the table below:
| Hawaii | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| Aloha | Ah-low-ah | Hello/goodbye/love |
| E komo mai | Air ko-moo my | Welcome |
| Hana hou | Ah-na ho | One more time |
| Hauʻoli lā hānau | how-oh-lee lah hah-nah-oo | Happy Birthday |
| Mahalo | Mah-ah-loh | Thank you |
| Mele Kalikimaka | Meh-leh Kah=-lee-key-mah–ka | Merry Christmas |
| Keiki | Key-ick-e | Child |
| Ohana | Oo-ah-na | Family |
| Huli | who-lee | Turn/flip (as in flipping a burger on the grill) |
| Kūlia i ka nuʻu | Ku-moo-leeah ee kah noo-moo | Strive for the summit (or aim high) |
5 Traditional Hawaiian Food Commonly Served on a Hawaiian Birthday
In these modern times, it is possible to cook traditional Hawaiian foods. Their foods are known to be organic and sustainable, so you don’t have to worry about the economic weight it will have on you. You will be good with a few modern cooking skills and a Hawaiian food idea.
Read Also: A Beginner’s Guide to Saying Happy Birthday in Korea
These foods include:
- Kalua Pig: It is a slowly-cooked pig meat (pork) in an underground oven or imu. At present, you can smoke or roast it and still achieve almost the same result, then serve it as pulled pork.
- Poi: This dish was considered a daily food for Hawaiian people. To make this delicacy, Simmer taro roots until it is soft enough to be mashed, then eaten with other dishes for a balanced diet.
- Laulau: It is uncooked animal meats (fish, beef, etc.) packaged into a taro leaf and served after steaming for some hours. You can add other foods like tubers and cook them inside taro leaves.
- Haupia: This common Hawaiian dish was a snack and dessert that you should eat along with your main food. It is essentially a thickened coconut bar.
- Hawaiian Style Macaroni Salad: Hawaiian macaroni salad is a juicy and sweet delicacy that consists of macaroni mixed with mayonnaise, carrots, celery, and sometimes other vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Ways to Wish Someone a “Happy Birthday” in Hawaiian
If you want to say happy birthday in Hawaii’s native language, say Hauʻoli Lā Piha Makahiki, which translates to happy new year in the English version and congratulates the celebrant for completing another year of their life.
Hawaiians engage in fun activities such as lei-making, singing, and throwing a birthday party. They also especially celebrate the first and 30th birthdays with a mix of travel, music displays and more.
Hawaiians engage in fun activities such as lei-making, singing, and throwing a birthday party. They also especially celebrate the first and 30th birthdays with a mix of travel, music displays and more.
Yes! Lei giving signifies your gratitude, love, and recognition of the celebrant’s day. The celebrant of a special event usually wears it. Ensure you smile with adoration as you give the celebrant; this way, you have reminded the celebrant how special their day is.
The 1st birthday of a Hawaiian baby is called the baby lūʻau. Traditionally, you should attend a baby lūʻau party with a gift such as money kept in a card, a lei for the parent, or an offer to help parents if the party becomes too busy. After all, the baby lūʻau celebrates a kid.
Aloha Kaua literally translates to “Love war” in English. It communicates the idea of peacefully sharing love between two people; most Hawaiians use it as an informal greeting.
Final Thought
One way to say “Happy Birthday” in Hawaiian is “Hauʻoli lā hānau.” In Hawaiian culture, birthdays are a time for celebration and joy. Saying this phrase to a loved one wishes them a happy birthday and acknowledges the significance of their special day.
However, it’s important to note that the Hawaiian language and culture should be respected and used appropriately. Using phrases like “Hauʻoli lā hānau” in a cultural or traditional setting is appropriate, but using it as a trendy greeting in all situations may not be appropriate. In its stead, use aloha!
