1. nvs. Dollar, silver, money, price, currency, means, funds; moneyed.

 The Hawaiian word for money, kālā, is transliterized from the English word, dollar. Makes sense that it would be so since kālā is a foreign introduction into Hawai‘i. In some older writings, kālā can be found written as dala. In fact, that’s how we still say it in Pidgin. You get dala?

The “mighty” kālā has continuously changed our way of life here from one of subsistence and self sufficiency, to that of a market economy, where a price has been put on everything. So having kālā is the name of the game, and the more the merrier, right?

Here are some sentences for you to use in your daily lives:

‘Ehia kālā? How much money? (How much is it?)

‘A‘ohe a‘u kālā. I don’t have any money.

He kālā kāu? Do you have money?

Copyright: 2015 – Liana Iaea Honda. All rights reserved. All versions of He Momi e Lei ai”, in its entirety, past and present, is the property of L. K. I. Honda. Reproduction and use of any kind other than the sharing of this website is prohibited. Alteration to the original content in any form is prohibited in every and any instance, and use in any other variant is prohibited without written consent of the author. Adress inquiries to: hemomi [at] gmail.com. Definitions and wise sayings are from: Hawaiian Dictionary by Pukui and Elbert, 1986. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau – Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings by Mary Kawena Pukui, 1983.