kamaaina

or ka·ma·'ai·na

[ kah-muh-ahy-nuh ]

noun

1. a longtime resident of Hawaii.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kamaaina¹

First recorded in 1900–05; from Hawaiian kamaʿāina “native born,” equivalent to kama “child, person” + ʿāina “land, earth”

Example Sentences

LAHAINA, Hawaii — Long before a wind-whipped wildfire blasted through the island of Maui, tension existed between Hawaii’s kamaaina, or longtime residents, and the visitors some islanders resent for turning their beaches, mountains and communities into playgrounds.

From Washington Times

The company, Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control, did provide some legitimate services, but it also served as a headquarters for planning crimes including laundering illicit money and fraudulently employing people whose so-called work involved violence on behalf of Miske’s enterprise, prosecutors said.

From Washington Times

Kamaaina Kids Vice President Buffy Owens said the company, one of Hawaii’s largest child care providers, went from caring for 10,000 children to about 600.

From Washington Times

The definition of the word kamaaina is not quite correct.

From New York Times

The definition of the word kamaaina is not quite correct.

From New York Times