Pidgin, brah! What's the meaning of Moi Moi in Hawaii?
PRONUNCIATION: moy-MOY
DEFINITION: sleep, nap, rest
USAGE: No make all kine noise, da keiki stay moi moi.
ENGLISH: Please be quiet, the children are sleeping.
ALTERNATES: moe moe, moemoe
Don't Eat This: Sleep vs. Fish vs. Beans
If you are looking for the Nigerian bean pudding, you are in the wrong place! In Hawaii, Moi Moi (or Moe Moe) refers to two very specific local things:
1. Time to Sleep (The Most Common Usage): "Moi Moi" is the phonetic Pidgin spelling of the Hawaiian word Moemoe (sleep). It is often used as "baby talk" or casual slang.
- Usage: "Go moi moi" (Go to sleep).
2. The Royal Fish: Moi is also a specific type of fish (Pacific Threadfin). In ancient Hawaii, the Moi was reserved for royalty (Aliʻi) and commoners were forbidden from eating it.
Spelling Note: While you will often see it texted as "Moi Moi," the proper Hawaiian spelling for sleep is Moemoe.
