Weather Terms — Nā Hua Anilā

I complied this list of weather and sky related terms in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Please note that I am not a native speaker, just a beginner who loves the language. Also, different people use different terms to describe the weather and their experience outside. Language is personal and evolving! That said, please let me know if there are any mistakes and I’ll do my best to fix them!

I am planning to keep a printable version to keep in your journal for when you write your metadata. The best way to learn a language is to use it! Also be sure to check out my post about nature journaling all things related to the sky: https://hawaiinaturejournal.org/the-sky-ka-lani/

Manawa = time

Lā = day
Pō = night

Kakahiaka = morning
Awakea = around noontime, when the sun is overhead
ʻAuinala = afternoon
Ahiahi = evening

Makahiki = year, or annual
Kau wela = dry, hotter season (~May –> October)
Hoʻoilo = rainy, cooler season (~November –> April)

Mea = Objects, things

Aia i hea _____? = Where is _____?

Aia _____ = There is _______

He aha kēlā? = What is that (thing thatʻs far away?)

He ______ kēlā. = That is a ______ (note: remove the “ka” or “ke” before inserting it into this sentence structure, so you would say, he lā kēlā.)

ke ao = cloud, sky (nā ao = clouds)
ka lā = sun
ka hoku = star (nā hoku = stars… see a pattern?)
ka mahina = moon
ke ānuenue = rainbow
ka ua = rain
ka makani = wind
ka hekili = thunder
ka uila = lightning

Ke ʻano o ka manawa = Weather conditions

Pehea ke anilā? = How is the weather? (Note: Anilā is a modern coinage)

Pehea kēia lā? = How is (it) today?

____ kēia lā. = Today is ____

He lā ____ kēia. = It is a _____ day.

ikiiki = humid
mālie = calm
anuanu = cold
hau = snowy
lā = sunny
makani = windy
ʻōmalu = cloudy
ʻōmalumalu = very cloudy
ua = rainy
lilinoe = fine misty rain
noe = misty
ʻino = stormy
polalauahi = voggy (volcanic)

More Weather Terms in Hawaiian

A collection of Hawaiian weather related terms from UH Manoa SOEST: https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/met/NewPDFs/HawaiianWeatherTerms.pdf

From the Hawaii Climate Data Portal: Glossary of terms

Kamehameha Publishing created this great illustrated, bilingual book with common phrases used to describe the weather: https://shops.kamehamehapublishing.org/products/978-0-87336-235-1 and they even have a read-aloud video of the book so you can learn the pronunciation