One Of, Another: kekahi

Level 2

Kekahi picks out one or some from a group. It takes the place of the article.

How It Works

Kekahi works like an article, so you do not add ka or ke after it. Its meaning depends on what follows.

PatternMeaning
kekahi keikia certain child, another child
kekahi mau keikisome children
kekahi o nā keikione of the children
kekahi i kekahione another

The Reference Grammar glosses kekahi as “a certain, some”. It shows E aloha ʻoukou i kekahi i kekahi for “Love one another”, and kekahi after a subject for “also”, as in ʻO au kekahi (“Me too”).

In a sentence with a verb, kekahi or kahi often takes the place of he to introduce a new thing, as in ʻIke ʻo ia i kekahi hale (“He saw a house”).

Examples (5)

  1. Ua ʻike au i kekahi keiki ma ke kula.

    I saw a certain child at school.

    Kekahi stands where an article would stand.

  2. Aia kekahi mau puke ma ke pākaukau.

    There are some books on the table.

    Kekahi mau means some.

  3. Ua hoʻi mai kekahi o nā haumāna.

    One of the students came back.

    Kekahi o nā means one of the group.

  4. E kōkua kākou i kekahi i kekahi.

    Let us help one another.

    Kekahi i kekahi means each other.

  5. Ua kūʻai ʻo Leilani i kekahi pāpale.

    Leilani bought a hat.

    Kekahi introduces something new in a verb sentence.

How It Connects

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

One Of, Another: kekahiLevel 2

Learn This First

Kekahi means “one of” or “another”, and kekahi mau means “some”.

Words in This Pattern

kekahikekahimau