Hawaiian

noun

Ha·​wai·​ian hə-ˈwä-yən 

-ˈwī-(y)ən, 

-ˈwȯ-yən

1

: a native or resident of Hawaii

especially : one of Polynesian ancestry

Note: In Hawaii, the word Hawaiian is understood as an ethnic designation for a native person of Polynesian descent, and its use in the more general sense "a resident of Hawaii" is considered an error.

2

: the Polynesian language of the Hawaiians

Hawaiian adjective

Examples of Hawaiian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prior to the series, Chun had appeared in a handful of movies, including Ghost of the China Sea (1958) and Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961), but Hawaii Five-O was by far his most sizable role. — Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026

Thursday, June 11, Hawaiian Chicken, brown rice, peas, fresh orange, milk. — Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026

The Original Hawaiian Island Snoball in Maryland has been serving up snoballs for 40 years. — Mary Eber, CBS News, 5 June 2026

Starlink has emerged as a popular offering with consumers, but it’s also used by dozens of airlines, including United, Southwest and Hawaiian, for offering in-flight wireless internet. — Lora Kolodny,annie Palmer, CNBC, 21 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Hawaiian

• Hawaiian goose
• Hawaiian guitar
• Hawaiian shirt

Rhymes for Hawaiian

• ixion
• mauryan
• orion
• procyon
• visayan
• amphitryon
• dandelion
• herodian
• heian
• ion
• lion
• mayan

Kids Definition

Hawaiian

noun

Ha·​wai·​ian hə-ˈwä-yən 

-ˈwī(y)ən, 

-ˈwȯ-yən

1

: a person born or living in Hawaii

especially : one of Polynesian ancestry

2

: the Polynesian language of the Hawaiians

Hawaiian adjective