"Mahalo" is a
Hawaiian word meaning thanks, gratitude, admiration, praise, esteem, regards, or respects. According to the Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, it is derived from the
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian (abbreviated PPn) is the hypothetical proto-language from which all the modern Polynesian languages descend. It is a daughter language of the Proto-Austronesian language. Historical linguists have reconstructed the language using ...
''*masalo.''
Some sources support that the meanings "thanks" and "gratitude" were appended to the word following contact with Westerners. While the word ''mahalo'' is found in
Lorrin Andrews
Lorrin Andrews (April 29, 1795 – September 29, 1868) was an early American missionary to Hawaii and judge. He opened the first post-secondary school for Hawaiians called Lahainaluna Seminary, prepared a Hawaiian dictionary and several works o ...
' 1865 dictionary, the English-Hawaiian section does not provide any Hawaiian word intended to mean gratitude or thanks.
Also, early visitors noted that the Hawaiians were generous and grateful people, but had no word to express gratitude or to say "thank you".
See also
*
Aloha
References
Hawaiian words and phrases
Hawaiiana
fr:Mahalo
it:Mahalo
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