I thought it would be a good idea to share with you about the local language- Pigeon. I guess it's more of a dialect of English, but when you hear a full out Pigeon conversation, you won't have a clue what they are saying! Some of the words are really hard to get used to, but some have been fun to pick up!
I got a lot of these words and definitions from "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook" which I would recommend to anyone coming to the island. It's a very controversial book on the island because it exposes so many places that only locals knew about. We have heard of people busting open windows of rental cars if they see that book laying in the car seat. We have actually even seen busted car windows of some tourists spots. Don't worry, if you visit we can try and arrange for you an old beater car so everyone thnks you live here! :-) Oh yeah, anyways…back to our lesson.
A couple of HAWAIIAN (different than pigeon) words that would be good to know are:
Makai (ma- KIGH)v- toward the Ocean
Mauka (MOW-ka) - toward the sea
You may hear these words when receiving directions from a local. "Foodland is on the Makai side of the highway."
Pau (pow)- Finish; End; Pau Hana means quitting tome for work. "Oh, It's 5 o'clock, I'm Pau!"
Pupu (POO-POO)- Appetizer, snacks or finger food. Why yes, it is pronounced like going to the bathroom. We love going to James' family's house for pupus! If someone asks you if you want a pupu, "yes" is a great answer in Kauai!
Kama'aina (KA-ma-EYE-na)- long-time Hawaii residents. I'm just throwing this out there in case someone asks you if you're kama'aina (which is highly unlikely). Most places will give you a kama'aina discount even if you aren't a "long-time" resident. If you have a license to prove you live here, you're good!
Now for the pigeon words and phrases:
An' den- and then? so?
Any Kine- Anything; any kind
Ass Right- That's right
Ass why- That's why
Beef- fight
Brah- bruddah; friend; brother
Brok' da mouf- delicious
Buggah- That's the one; it is difficult
Bus laugh- To laugh out loud
Bus nose- How one reacts to a bad smell
Chicken skin kine- something that gives you goose bumps
Choke- Plenty; a lot
Cockaroach- steal; rip off
Da Kine- A noun or verb used in place of whatever the speaker wishes. Heard Constantly!
Fo days- Plenty "He got hair of days!"
Geevum- go for it! give 'em hell!
Grind- to eat
Grinds- food
Haole- foreigner. This can be anyone who is not local meaning people from the mainland, tourists, or just white people. Mostly used as a tern for a white person.
Haole rash- Sunburn
How you figga?- How do you figure?
Howzit?- How's it going? How are you?
I owe you money or wot?- What to say if someone is staring at you
Mek house- Make yourself at home
Mek plate- Grab some food
Mo' bettah- this is better.
Moke- a large tough local male. ( don't say it unless you like beef!)
No can- cannot; I cannot do it
No mek lidat- stop doing that
No, Yeah?- No, or is "no" correct?
'Okole sqeezer- something that suddenly frightens you ('okole meaning butt)
O wot?- or what?
Poi dog- a mutt
Shahkbait- Shark bait, meaning pale untanned people
Shaka- Great! all right!
Shredding- riding a gnarly wave
Sleepahs- Flip-flops
Stink eye- Dirty looks
Suck Rocks- Buzz off, or pound sand
Talk stink- Repeat bad about somebody
Talk story- shooting the breeze
Tanks eh?- thank you
Tita- a female moke- same beef results
Yeah?- used at the ed of sentences, all the time.
Well there you have it. A few words and their meaning to get you started if (or shall I say when) you come and visit us!
With love,
DA BRUDDAHS
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