Quick Answer
"E komo mai" (pronounced "eh KOH-moh MY") is the traditional Hawaiian phrase for "welcome," "come on in," or "please enter." You'll see it carved into wooden porch signs on island homes, painted across town welcome banners, and spoken warmly alongside Aloha whenever guests arrive at the door.
Polite Hawaiian invitation / imperative particle ("please do...").
Verb meaning "to enter, step inside, join in, or put on."
Directional particle meaning "toward me / this way" (opposite of aku, "away").
Local House Rule: When a Hawaii host smiles and says "E komo mai!", kick off your shoes or rubbah slippahs on the lanai first — leaving a pile of slippahs by the front door is the #1 sign of a happy local gathering!
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|
| E komo mai | eh KOH-moh MY | "Welcome! / Please come inside!" — homes, shops, schools, and island signs. |
| Aloha, e komo mai | ah-LOH-hah, eh KOH-moh MY | "Hello with love, and welcome in!" — full warm greeting for arriving guests. |
| Hele mai ʻai! | HEH-leh my EYE | "Come and eat!" — the classic backyard luau / potluck call when food is ready. |
| "Come inside, go eat!" | Everyday Pidgin | How every local Aunty translates e komo mai within 3 seconds of opening the screen door. |
"E komo mai! Leave your slippahs outside da door and grab one plate!"
Translation: "Welcome, come on in! Leave your flip-flops outside the door and fix yourself a plate of food!"
"Aloha, e komo mai! Get out da rain and sit down on da lanai."
Translation: "Hello and welcome! Step out of the rain and have a seat on the porch."
"Uncle carved one koa wood 'E Komo Mai' sign fo' their new hale in Kailua."
Translation: "Uncle carved a koa wood 'Welcome' sign for their new house in Kailua."
"E komo mai, make yourself at home — coffee stay hot on da stove!"
Translation: "Come right in and make yourself at home — there's hot coffee on the stove!"
Aloha
Love, greeting, compassion, and spirit
A Hui Hou
"Until we meet again" — Hawaii's warm farewell
Mahalo
Hawaiian for "thank you" and appreciation
Howzit
Everyday Hawaii Pidgin for "How's it going?"
Hale
Hawaiian word for house or home (HAH-leh)
Talk Story
Relaxing and catching up over coffee or food
What does e komo mai mean in Hawaiian?
E komo mai (pronounced eh KOH-moh MY) means "welcome," "come in," or "please enter." Literally, e marks a polite invitation, komo means "enter," and mai means "toward the speaker."
How do you pronounce e komo mai?
Say eh KOH-moh MY — eh (like "bet"), KOH-moh (like "cocoa"), and MY (rhyming with "sky").
Does aloha mean welcome, or does e komo mai?
Aloha conveys love, hello, and goodbye, while e komo mai specifically means "welcome / come inside." Together, "Aloha, e komo mai!" means "Hello and welcome!"
What should you do when someone says "E komo mai" at a Hawaii home?
Slip off your shoes or flip-flops outside the front door before stepping inside — removing footwear at the entrance is universal respect in Hawaii homes.
How do you say "Welcome to our home" in Hawaiian?
Say "E komo mai i ko mākou hale" (or ko kākou hale when warmly including the guest in the household).
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