Mountain and Sea: mauka and makai

Toward the Mountain and Toward the Sea

Level 3

Mauka means toward the mountain, and makai means toward the sea.

How It Works

The Reference Grammar uses uka the way it uses luna and lalo, with o and a place after it: ʻaʻole e piʻi i uka o laila “do not climb inland of there”. Hawaiian Wikipedia has ma uka o in the same way. Kai follows the same pattern, so ma kai o is built like ma uka o.

WordMeaning
ma uka, maukainland, toward the mountain
ma kai, makaitoward the sea

Many people write the pair as one word, and both spellings are in use. On islands, these words give directions in daily life, such as which side of the road a store is on.

Examples (4)

  1. Aia ka hale kūʻai ma kai o ke alanui.

    The store is on the sea side of the road.

    Ma kai o names the sea side.

  2. Ke noho nei koʻu ʻohana ma uka.

    My family lives inland.

    Ma uka means inland.

  3. E hele i kai.

    Go toward the sea.

    I goes with a verb of moving.

  4. Aia ke kula ma uka o ka hale kūʻai.

    The school is inland from the store.

    Ma uka o names the inland side.

How It Connects

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

Mountain and Sea: mauka and makaiLevel 3Toward the Mountain and Toward the Sea

Learn This First

Mauka and makai are place words for toward the mountain and toward the sea.

Words in This Pattern

maukamakaimaukakaima-