Hawaiian

American  

[huh-wahy-uhn, -wah-yuhn] / həˈwaɪ ən, -ˈwɑ yən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Hawaii or the Hawaiian Islands.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Hawaii or the Hawaiian Islands.

2. the aboriginal language of Hawaii, a Polynesian language.

Hawaiian British  

/ həˈwaɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Hawaii, its people, or their language

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Hawaii, esp one descended from Melanesian or Tahitian immigrants

2. a language of Hawaii belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family

Etymology

Origin of Hawaiian

First recorded in 1815–25; Hawaii + -an

Compare meaning

How does hawaiian compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Polynesian vs. Hawaiian

Example Sentences

County portion of the district, which includes Norwalk, Hawaiian Gardens, Artesia and Lakewood.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

And Alaska and Hawaiian airlines hit a new merger milestone, switching to a single mobile app.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

This updated understanding may also help resolve tensions that have existed between conservation groups and Native Hawaiian communities, opening the door to more inclusive approaches.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

Alaska is still working out its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, completed in 2024.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Instead of konohiki carrying out every aspect of administration for a Hawaiian district, state governments have several separate departments, each with its own hierarchy, to handle water management, taxes, military draft, and so on.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond