No Worry, McFlurreh: Hawaiian Pidgin for the Modern Visitor

Stay time fo Aunty’s pidgin update!

Shoots Den or Automatic? A Local’s Guide to Hawaiian Pidgin

Recently someone asked me: what’s the difference between shoots den and automatic? Ho nah — that’s one good question, and worthy of one whole blog!

Shoots den vs automatic …or maybe guarenz

All words are expressions of affirmation, but they belong to different generations.

Shoots den (or just shoots) is old school — it means “go for it” or “okay, let’s do it.” This one’s from the kūpuna playbook.

Automatic is the younger generation’s word. Same affirmation energy, but it also means “you’re welcome.” You say thanks for mowing the lawn, they answer automatic, Aunty.

Guarenz is similar to shoots; meaning “guaranteed” – also an old school expression…kinda rhymes with Ball Berings?! “Guarenz ball berins.”

Classic Rhymes Worth Knowing

Pidgin has its funny rhyming sayings. Kanak attack; meaning “food coma”… Guarenz ball bearins – why ball berings? Who knows but it’s catchy! Guaranteed!… The old standard is no worry, beef curry — but lately the remix has been making the rounds: no worry, McFlurreh.

Sound Mo’ Bettah — Two Quick Tricks

Want your pidgin to feel more natural? Try these two swaps:

Swap “a” for “one” — as in: “Can I get one beer” or “I like one spam musubi.” (And yes, that’s mus-oo-BEE, not mus-OO-bi.)

Use “stay” instead of “is” — as in: “How you stay?” or “The surf stay pumping today”

Ho nah is universal and can mean so many things depending on emphasis — “no way!” or “wow!” or pure sympathy or “for real though.” Context is everything. When we made it to the top of the greuling Kaheawa Wind farm hike – “Ho Nah” was the feeling!

My Particular Flavor

My pidgin is Maui through and through — shaped by local friends in school, hippy surfer parents, and a good dash of Potagee since I grew up in in paniolo country. Every person’s pidgin is a little bit different, a mix of who raised them and where.

And that’s the beauty of it. You don’t need to speak pidgin fluently — or even at all — to move through Hawaiʻi with grace. What matters is the Haʻahaʻa vibe: humility, good humor, an open mind, and a willingness to slow down and talk story.

One thing, though — do not ring the bell at the counter. Just… don’t do it! You’ll understand why after living in Hawai’i for a few years…

Check out my recent blog with a some ‘Olelo Hawaii…

A hui hou — no worry, McFlurreh!