Hawaiian Word of the Week: Pa'ahana

Today is Labor Day and a day when we pay tribute to the contributions of workers across the country. Many of us welcome this holiday as an extra day to rest. For many of us our weekends and weeknights can be consumed by work that we are pa’ahana (pronounced “pah ah-hah-nah”) hard working, industrious or literally “stuck at work”. 

Pa’ahana is made up of two Hawaiian words: “pa’a” (pronounced “pah-ah”) meaning “stuck” and “hana” (pronounced “hah-nah”) meaning “work”. Pa’ahana is used to explain why you may not be able to go have drinks with a friend on a weeknight, or have to miss a party on weekends because you have to work. 

Are you guilty of pa’ahana?

Hoping that you aren’t pa’ahana this Labor Day and are able to take a rest from your work.

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