What is mahalo and when do I say it?
Last updated:
Mahalo (mah-HAH-loh) means "thank you" in Hawaiian. Use it the way you'd use "thanks" — to a server, a host, a kumu after a workday. "Mahalo nui loa" (mah-HAH-loh NOO-ee LOH-ah) means "thank you very much." Don't say it ironically or for a laugh — it carries weight.
Topics: hawaiian-culture, language, protocol