The One Who Did: ka mea i

Level 4

Ka mea i means the one who did it, and it joins a finished action to a person or thing.

How It Works

The phrase has two small parts: ka mea (the one) and a clause that starts with i.

  • ka mea i hele mai the one who came
  • ka mea i kākau i ka leka the one who wrote the letter
  • ka mea e kōkua mai ana the one who will help

Use it in a naming sentence: ʻO Leilani ka mea i kuke i ka moa. “Leilani is the one who cooked the chicken.” A learner page on relative clauses says ka mea i and ka mea e are common and are often contracted, so you may see the pieces run together.

Examples (4)

  1. ʻO Leilani ka mea i kuke i ka moa.

    Leilani is the one who cooked the chicken.

    Ka mea i joins to a finished action.

  2. ʻO ke kumu ka mea i heluhelu i ka puke.

    The teacher is the one who read the book.

    The same frame with a different doer.

  3. Ua ʻike au i ka mea i kākau i ka leka.

    I saw the one who wrote the letter.

    The phrase can also be an object.

  4. ʻO Kala ka mea e kōkua mai ana iaʻu.

    Kala is the one who will help me.

    Ka mea e is for an action that is still ahead.

How It Connects

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

The One Who Did: ka mea iLevel 4

Learn This First

Ka mea i means “the one who did” and builds on ʻo ... ka mea.

Words in This Pattern

kameai