ʻŌlelo Resource of the Month: Salutations and closings in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi

In a new monthly series launched this month, UH Hilo Director of Native Hawaiian Engagement Pele Harman shares a helpful tool to incorporate into correspondence as a small but intentional way to highlight the native language of Hawaiʻi.

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This is the first post of a new monthly series by Pelehonuamea Harman, director of Native Hawaiian engagement at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The series will share Native Hawaiian protocols on the use of ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), cultural traditions, traditional ways of Indigenous learning, and more. This first in the series is on salutations and closings for correspondence.

Aloha mai kākou,

Whenever I correspond with people from all over the world, I use the word aloha in my greeting. This is a uniquely Hawaiian word and value that we should use and understand as members of the UH Hilo ʻohana. Please find attached a list of salutations and closings that are appropriate for use within various contexts. Although they could be used orally as well, some are more appropriate (such as the closings) in written form rather than spoken aloud.

I hope this serves as a helpful tool that you can incorporate into your correspondences as a small but intentional way to highlight the native language of this place.

Mahalo nui loa, for your continued engagement, dedication, and stewardship of a Hawaiian place of learning at UH Hilo.

Naʻu me ka haʻahaʻa,

Pelehonuamea Harman
Director of Native Hawaiian Engagement
UH Hilo

Salutations

Aloha pumehana kāua e,		Warm aloha to you (name of recipient) and I
Aloha pumehana kākou,		Warm aloha to all of us (3+)
Aloha kāua (e ),		Aloha to you (optional: name of recipient) and I
Aloha kākou,		Aloha to all of us (3+)
Aloha nui,		Lots of Aloha
Me ʻoe ka welina o ke aloha,		To you an expression of aloha
Me ʻolua ka welina o ke aloha,		To you 2 (excluding me) an expression of aloha
Me ʻoukou ka welina o ke aloha,		To you 3+ (excluding me) and expression of aloha
Welina mai kāua e ,		Salutations to you (name of recipient) and I
Welina mai kākou		Salutations to all of us (3+)

Closings

Naʻu, na __________		By me, by “Author”
Naʻu me ke aloha, na __________		By me, by “Author”
Naʻu nō, na __________		By me indeed, by “Author”
Naʻu me ka mahalo, na __________		By me with gratitude, by “Author”
Naʻu me ka haʻahaʻa, na __________		By me with humility, by “Author”
Naʻu me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo, Na __________		By me with sincerity, by “Author”
Me ka mahalo nui,		With much gratitude
ʻO au iho nō me ka haʻahaʻa,	This is a more formal format	I am the undersigned with humility
ʻO au iho nō me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo,		I am the undersigned with sincerity
ʻO au iho nō me ka mahalo,		I am the undersigned with gratitude

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Pele Harman joined UH Hilo’s Office of the Chancellor in June 2024 as part of the Hawai’i Papa o Ke Ao team being established throughout the statewide 10-campus UH System. The group is working in concert to develop, implement, and assess strategic actions to make UH a leader in Indigenous education.