makai

American  

[muh-kahy] / məˈkaɪ /

adverb

Hawaii.

1. toward or by the sea; seaward.

   He agreed to purchase the land makai of Diamond Head Road.

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Usage

What does makai mean? Makai means toward the sea. Makai is a common term in Hawaiian that has been adopted into English. It describes the location of something in terms of being near or at the ocean, or seaward. Related to makai is mauka, meaning "toward the mountains or inland.” People in Hawaii often give directions in terms of whether something is toward the ocean (makai) or the mountains (mauka), especially in boating and sea travel. Example: The hiking trail makai of the reservation has lovely ocean views.

Etymology

Origin of makai

< Hawaiian, equivalent to ma directional particle + kai ocean

Example Sentences

The boulevard and the makai bank of the Ala Wai Canal could then be converted into “a multi-purpose Waikiki super dike,” the outlet said.

From Washington Times • Apr. 5, 2021

The same can’t be said of the makai palak, a murky little swamp of spinach and corn.

From Washington Post • Aug. 9, 2019

Hoi aku la laua a hiki i ka hale, ia manawa, kena ae la oia ia Halaaniani e hele e makai aku ia Laieikawai.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren

For all practical purposes there are but two directions in the islands—mouka, meaning toward the mountains, and makai, toward the sea.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 26, October, 1880 by Various

Hosts of guests had known the comfort and joy of her mountain house on Tantalus, and of her volcano house, her mauka house, and her makai house on the big island of Hawaii.

From On the Makaloa Mat by London, Jack