waiwai

Hawaiian

Etymology

Possibly a reduplication of wai (“fresh water”); more likely, a reduplication of wai, a rare form of waiho (“to leave, deposit”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wai̯ˈwai̯/, [ʋəjˈʋɐj], [ʋəjˈʋɛj] (rapid speech)

Verb

waiwai

1. (stative) to be rich

References

• Elbert, Samuel H., Pukui, Mary Kawena (1979) Hawaiian Grammar, Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press, →ISBN, page 67