Preserving Hawaii's Unique Linguistic Heritage
The most comprehensive online resource for Hawaiian Pidgin, created by local speakers who grew up with the language.
ChokePidgin.com was created to preserve, celebrate, and share authentic Hawaiian Pidgin with both locals and visitors who want to understand Hawaii's unique linguistic culture.
Hawaiian Pidgin (Hawaiian Creole English) is more than just slang—it's a legitimate creole language with its own grammar, syntax, and rich cultural history. It emerged from Hawaii's multicultural plantation era, blending Hawaiian, English, Portuguese, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, and other languages into something entirely unique.
Our goal is to be the definitive online resource for anyone seeking to learn, understand, or translate Hawaiian Pidgin.
Every word and phrase in our dictionary has been verified by native Hawaiian Pidgin speakers who grew up using the language daily.
With 600+ entries, we cover everything from everyday greetings to regional variations, cultural context, and proper pronunciation.
We don't just translate—we explain the cultural context, origins, and nuances that make Hawaiian Pidgin special.
Hawaiian Pidgin is part of Hawaii's cultural heritage. We believe this knowledge should be freely available to everyone.
Hawaiian Pidgin (technically Hawaiian Creole English or HCE) is a creole language that developed on Hawaii's sugar plantations in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Workers from Hawaii, China, Japan, Portugal, the Philippines, Korea, and other countries needed a common language to communicate—and Hawaiian Pidgin was born.
Linguistically, it's a creole language—a fully-developed language with its own grammar and native speakers. However, locals call it "Pidgin," and that name has stuck. We use "Hawaiian Pidgin" because that's what people actually search for and use in everyday conversation.
Hawaiian Pidgin is a vital part of Hawaii's identity and multicultural heritage. It represents the unique blend of cultures that makes Hawaii special. By preserving and teaching Pidgin, we honor the contributions of all the immigrant communities that built modern Hawaii.
ChokePidgin.com was compiled by a team of local Hawaii residents and native Pidgin speakers with deep roots in the islands. Our contributors include:
Every entry has been carefully researched, verified by multiple speakers, and contextualized with real-world examples and cultural notes.
Our dictionary is informed by both academic research and lived experience. Key references include:
Hawaiian Pidgin is a living language that continues to evolve. If you're a native speaker and notice missing words, regional variations, or have suggestions for improvements, we'd love to hear from you!
Know a Pidgin word or phrase we're missing? Share it with us and help expand our dictionary.
Submit a WordHelp us preserve Hawaiian Pidgin by sharing ChokePidgin.com with friends, family, and educators.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all the native speakers, cultural practitioners, and linguists who contributed their knowledge and expertise to make ChokePidgin.com possible. Your passion for preserving Hawaiian Pidgin inspires us every day.
Special mahalo to the immigrant communities—Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Filipino, Korean, and others—whose languages and cultures created the beautiful mosaic that is Hawaiian Pidgin.