Hawaiian

noun

Ha·​wai·​ian hə-ˈwä-yən How to pronounce Hawaiian (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her Gratiot Pesto is bright and aromatic, trading Parmesan for heftier portions of garlic and herbs, and a No Swine Hawaiian replaces ham with sweet seitan bacon. Lyndsay C. Green, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 July 2025 Thanks to a new direct flight from Seattle to Narita International Airport by Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, it’s never been easier to plan a solo vacation to Tokyo. Katie Chang, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 Wednesday, July 23, Hawaiian Chicken, brown rice, green beans, tropical fruit, milk. Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025 One of the four chicks that have hatched so far this summer — on June 19, 20 and 24 and July 4 — belonged to Blue Hawaiian and Mai Tai, Hirsch said, although the flamingo family did not have another Independence Day hatching. Ethan Wolin july 13, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for Hawaiian

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hawaiian was in 1840

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hawaiian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hawaiian. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

Hawaiian

noun
Ha·​wai·​ian hə-ˈwä-yən How to pronounce Hawaiian (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on Hawaiian

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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