Because: no ka mea

Level 3

No ka mea starts a reason: “because”.

How It Works

The literal meaning of no ka mea is “for the thing”, and Hawaiian Wikipedia writers often use it to give a reason. It usually follows the part that says what happens.

What happensThe reason
Ke kuke nei au,no ka mea pōloli koʻu ʻohana.
Ke noho nei ʻo Kala ma ka hale,no ka mea ua ʻeha kona wāwae.

A comma helps the reader but is not part of the pattern. The reason can be a plain description, like makemake au “I want”, or a sentence that says something already happened, with ua.

Examples (4)

  1. Ke hele nei au i ke kula, no ka mea makemake au e heluhelu.

    I am going to school because I want to read.

    The reason follows no ka mea.

  2. Ke kuke nei au, no ka mea pōloli koʻu ʻohana.

    I am cooking because my family is hungry.

    The reason is a short sentence.

  3. Ke noho nei ʻo Kala ma ka hale, no ka mea ua ʻeha kona wāwae.

    Kala is staying home because his foot is hurt.

    The reason uses ua for something done.

  4. No ka mea ua hana nui au.

    Because I worked a lot.

    It can answer a why question on its own.

Common Mistakes

  • The kahakō is added to no.

    Ke hele nei au i ke kula, nō ka mea makemake au.
    Ke hele nei au i ke kula, no ka mea makemake au.

    The reason word has no kahakō. Nō is a different word that adds strength.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Because: no ka meaLevel 3

Learn This First

No ka mea gives a reason and answers the question no ke aha.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nokamea