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
All the music and art throughout is Hawaiian and there are multiple generations of family members working on the property, which makes for a unique experience.
—
Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The song had been beloved in Hawai'i for decades before being set to wax by the Hawaiian Quintette.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Only Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United will rebook on a partner airline; Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit will not.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 8 Apr. 2025
It's followed up by United Airlines' MileagePlus program in second, with Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles, Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles, and American Airlines' AAdvantage rounding out the top five.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Hawaiian
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Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The song had been beloved in Hawai'i for decades before being set to wax by the Hawaiian Quintette.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Only Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United will rebook on a partner airline; Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit will not.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 8 Apr. 2025
It's followed up by United Airlines' MileagePlus program in second, with Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles, Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles, and American Airlines' AAdvantage rounding out the top five.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Hawaiian
Cite this Entry
“Hawaiian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hawaiian. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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