Quick Answer
When people look up "kala" (pronounced "KAH-lah") in Hawaii, they are usually hearing one of two very common words that look identical when written without Hawaiian diacritical marks:
1. Kālā ("money / dollar / cash") — Used daily in both Hawaiian and Hawaiian Pidgin to mean money (e.g., "No mo' kala" = "I'm out of cash").
2. Kala ("to forgive / excuse / free") — The traditional Hawaiian word for forgiveness and release, heard constantly in "E kala mai" (or "Kalamai"), meaning "Excuse me" or "Forgive me."
Vowel Length Matters in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi:
- Kālā (Money / Dollar) — Has kahakō (macrons) over both ā vowels, so both syllables are held slightly longer: KAA-laa.
- Kala (Forgive / Release / Unicornfish) — Has no macrons, so both "ah" vowels are short and crisp: KAH-lah.
In casual Pidgin text messages: Locals usually type both without macrons as "kala", so context tells you immediately whether someone is talking about cash ("get kala?") or saying excuse me ("e kala mai").
1. Kālā = Money / Dollar 💵
In the 1800s, when silver trade dollars arrived in the Hawaiian Kingdom, speakers of Hawaiian adapted the English word "dollar" into Hawaiian phonology. Because Hawaiian uses k for English "d" and l for "r," "dollar" became kālā (also meaning "silver"). Today locals use kala in Pidgin for cash, bucks, or funds.
2. Kala = Forgive / Free 🌿
In traditional Hawaiian philosophy and hoʻoponopono (reconciliation), kala means to untie, unbind, let go, and forgive — releasing both people from the cord of a past hurt. When you bump past someone or apologize in Hawaii, you say "E kala mai" ("Please excuse/forgive me").
3. Kala = Unicornfish 🐟
Out on the reef and at local fish markets, kala is the Hawaiian name for the bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis), a tough-skinned surgeonfish with a distinctive horn on its forehead that is prized by local spearfishers (kāhala and kala are classic island catches).
| Word / Phrase | Literal Meaning | Common Hawaii Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kālā (kala) | Money, dollar, cash, silver | "No mo' kala till Friday!" ("I'm broke until payday!") |
| Kala | To forgive, untie, release, absolve | "Kala aku, kala mai." ("Forgive and be forgiven.") |
| E kala mai (Kalamai) | "Excuse me / Forgive me / I'm sorry" | "E kala mai, Aunty — can I squeeze by?" |
| Kala (reef fish) | Bluespine unicornfish | "We wen pulehu fresh kala on da grill." |
"Brah, I stay broke — no mo' kala fo' go out tonight!"
Translation: "Bro, I'm broke right now — I don't have the money to go out tonight!"
"Cost choke kala fo' buy house in Hawaii nowadays."
Translation: "It costs a ton of money to buy a house in Hawaii these days."
"E kala mai! I never see your slippahs by da door."
Translation: "Excuse me / I'm so sorry! I didn't see your flip-flops by the door."
"Make sure you bring cash — da manapua truck only take kala."
Translation: "Make sure you bring cash — the manapua lunch truck only accepts cash."
Choke
Pidgin for "plenty" or "a lot" (as in "choke kala")
Poho
A waste, loss, or shame when money or food goes to waste
Pake
Chinese in Hawaiian — also used playfully for being thrifty with kala
Aloha
Love, grace, compassion, hello, and farewell
Mahalo
Thank you, gratitude, and respect in Hawaiian
No Worry
How locals reply when someone says "E kala mai!"
What does kala mean in Hawaii?
Depending on spelling and context, kala has two major everyday meanings in Hawaii (plus a reef fish): (1) Kālā (with kahakō/macrons over both a's) means "money," "dollar," or "silver" in Hawaiian and Hawaiian Pidgin (e.g., "No mo' kala" = "I'm broke / out of money"). (2) Kala (without macrons) means "to forgive, absolve, untie, or free" in Hawaiian, most famously heard in "E kala mai" ("Excuse me / Forgive me").
Why does kālā mean money or dollar in Hawaiian?
Kālā was adapted into the Hawaiian language in the 19th century as the Hawaiian pronunciation of the English word "dollar" (since Hawaiian uses k in place of "d" and l in place of "r," "dollar" became kālā). Because early trade dollars were made of silver, kālā came to mean "dollar," "money," and "silver."
What does "E kala mai" (or "Kalamai") mean?
"E kala mai" (often written or said casually as Kalamai, pronounced eh KAH-lah MY) is the standard Hawaiian phrase for "Excuse me," "Forgive me," or "I'm sorry." Literally, it asks the listener to release or pardon (kala) toward the speaker (mai).
How do you pronounce kālā (money) vs. kala (forgive)?
Both use open "ah" vowels (KAH-lah), but in kālā (money), the kahakō (macrons) over both ā vowels make both syllables longer and evenly drawn out (KAA-laa), whereas kala (forgive) has shorter, brisker vowels (KAH-lah).
What is a kala fish in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, kala is also the Hawaiian name for the bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis), a prized reef surgeonfish easily recognized by the horn-like projection on its forehead and blue tail spines.
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