pilikia

American  

[pee-lee-kee-ah] / ˌpi liˈki ɑ /

noun

Hawaiian.

1. trouble.

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Explanation

You may hear the word pilikia in Hawaii. It means "trouble" or "problem," and it's a broad term for anything from a minor nuisance to a major crisis. A popular slang phrase using this term is nui pilikia, which means "big trouble." A boat captain might refer to ominous clouds on the horizon as indicating nui pilikia. The term pilikia is also commonly used in the response 'a'ole pilikia, which means the opposite: "no problem" or "no trouble." It's a casual, polite way to accept a "thank you," as in "It was no trouble at all" or "No problem!"

Example Sentences

Ma ke noi a Laieikawai, e hoopakele ia Laielohelohe a me kana kane, nolaila, ua maalo ae ka pilikia mai o laua ae, a no laua kekahi kuleana ma ka aina ma ia hope iho.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren

The fact of the late king dying without naming a successor was pre-eminently a pilikia, and it would be a serious pilikia if a horse were to lose a shoe on the way to Kilauea. 

From The Hawaiian Archipelago by Bird, Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy)

A no ia mea, iniki malu aku la ke Kuhina o ke Alii ia Aiwohikupua, e hookaawale ia lana mai kahi a Hinaikamalama e auau ana, i ole laua e pilikia ma ka manao.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren

Nolaila, ua loaa iho nei ia oe ka pilikia, no kakou pu ia pilikia.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren

Elua la, aohe mea nana i hai aku keia pilikia ia Aiwohikupua ma.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren