The 7 Hawaiian Basic Time Periods
It is generally accepted that Hawaiian's divide the day into 7 zones, although greetings only seem to refer to the 4 with defined times.
Ka Manawa (Time, Turn, Season.)
| Time | Hawaiian | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Wanaʻao | Eastern sky starts to lighten, roosters crow. | |
| 6am-10am | Kahahiaka | Light enough to see where you are going. |
| 10am-2pm | Awakea | The Sun is overhead. Midday. |
| 2pm-6pm | ʻAuinalā | The Sun is descending. Afternoon. |
| 6pm-10pm | Ahiahi | Late in the the day, one notices dimming of the day. |
| Pō | Dark enough to see stars. Night. | |
| Aumoe | Middle of night, all is quiet. |
Aditional time related events.
| Ao | Daylight, Dawn |
| Wana'ao / Kaiao | Dawn |
| Moku ka pawa | Dawn (cut the darkness) |
| Puka 'ana o ka lā | Sunrise (exit of the sun [from night]) |
| Pukana lā | Sunrise |
| Kakahiaka nui | Early morning |
| Keia kakahiaka aku | Later this morning |
| Kau ka lā i ka lolo | It is noon (the sun rests on the brains) |
| Lolokū / Molokū / Wekea | Mid Day |
| Napo'o 'ana o ka lā | Sunset |
Time realated words based on numbers
| Hawaiian | English |
|---|---|
| Hapalua | Half |
| Hapahā | Quarter |
Ka Hola (Time, Hour, O'clock)
| Hawaiian | English |
|---|---|
| Hapalua | Half Hour |
| Hapahā | Quarter |
| Minuke | Minute |
| Kekona | Second |
| Hola ʻehia kēia? | What time is it? |
| Hapalua hola ῾elua. | Two thirty. |
| Hapalua i hala ῾elua. | Half past two. |
| Hapahā i hala ῾elua | Quarter past two. |
| Hapahā i ka hola ῾elua | Quarter to two. |
| Kani ka hola. | It is time. |
| Kani ka hola ʻekahi. | It is now one o’clock. |
I've noticed some other variants of telling time, all are, I believe acceptable.
Hapalua hola [number]. Half-past [number] (Hapa=half, lua=2)
Hapalua hola ʻekahi. Half-past one. 1:30.
Hapalua i hola ʻekahi. Half-past one. 1:30. (p70 ʻŌlelo hou)
Hapahā i hala ka hola [number]. Quarter-past [number] (Hapahā=quarter, i hala = past)
Hapahā i hala ka hola ʻekahi. Quarter-past one. 1:15.
Hapahā i hala ‘ekahi. Quarter-past one. 1:15. (p70 ʻŌlelo hou)
Hapahā hola [number]. Quarter to [number] ( p209 Ka lei haʻaheo.)
Hapahā i ka hola [number]. Quarter to [number] o’clock. (p70 ʻŌlelo hou)
Hapahā i hola [number]. Quarter to [number]
Apparently one can also say "Hapahā ma mua o ka hola 'ekolu" (A quarter before 3).
And, in a Q&A on Duolingo Iʻve read that to express the time ‘til we can also say it in two more complicated(!) ways:
Hapahā i koe kani ka hola [number]
Ua hala ka ʻekolu hapahā i ka hola [number]
And, finally:
How do you say "Almost”?
Since kokoke means "almost" both in time and other situations you can say "Kokoke pau ka papa" (The class is almost done) as well as:
Kokoke (ka) hola 'elua" It's almost 2 o'clock.
Hū! That is a lot of options!
Pule = Week
I kēlā pule aku nei = Last week
I kēlā mahina aku nei = Last month
I kēlā makahiki aku nei = Last year
I kēlā kenekulia aku nei = Last century
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