How to Say “Should” In Hawaiian Using “E”

Using “E” (“Should”) To Make A Suggestion Or Command

Sometimes, we want to suggest that somebody should do something, like “Kimo should go to Kauaʻi” or “The work should be finished before 4 o’clock”. To do this, we simply put the suggestion/command word “e” before the action part of the sentence. The following are examples:

• E holoholo ʻo Kimo i Kauaʻi – Kimo should go to Kauaʻi
• E pau ka hana ma mua o ka hola ʻehā – The work should be finished before 4 o’clock

Let’s try to say some sentences. Listen and repeat after me. E hoʻomākaukau!

• E haʻalele ka mokulele i ka hola ʻelima – the plane should leave at 5 o’clock
• E holo ka moku i Puʻupehe – the boat should go to Puʻuhepe
• E maikaʻi ka hana – the work should be good
• E hauʻoli nā ipo ʻelua – the two sweethearts should be happy
• E hoʻomākaukau – get ready
• E hoʻolohe kākou! – we should all listen
• E hoʻolohe mai ʻoe! – you should listen to me!
• E wikiwiki ka hana – work should go fast
• no ka mea – because
• ua hoihoi kākou – because we are all interested
• E hele ka malihini i luna o ka pali – the visitor should go to the top of the cliff

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Now, it is your turn to translate into Hawaiian from the English. E hoʻomākaukau!

• Kealoha should go to Kona – E holoholo ʻo Kealoha i Kona
• The work should be finished before 4 o’clock – E pau ka hana ma mua o ka hola ʻehā
• The plane should leave at 5 o’clock – E haʻalele ka mokulele i ka hola ʻelima
• The boat should go to Kaunakakai – E holo ka moku i Kaunakakai
• The work should be good – E maikaʻi ka hana
• The two sweethearts should be happy – E hauʻoli nā ipo ʻelua
• Get ready! E hoʻomākaukau
• We should all listen – E hoʻolohe kākou!
• You should listen to me! – E hoʻolohe mai ʻoe!
• Work should go fast, because we are all interested – E wikiwiki ka hana, no ka mea, ua hoihoi kākou
• The visitor should go to the top of the cliff – E hele ka malihini i luna o ka pali

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