Pronunciation: how-zit

Howzit is the go-to Pidgin greeting in Hawaiʻi. It’s short for “How is it?” but really just means “Hello” or “How are you?”

In simple terms:

• Means: hello, how are you, what’s up
• Can be used with anyone, anytime

You’ll hear it everywhere — “Howzit, braddah?” at the beach, or just “Howzit!” when walking into a store.

Local Tip:
“Howzit” doesn’t need a long answer. A smile and “Howzit!” back is perfect. It’s all about acknowledging each other with aloha.

Cultural Note:
The phrase comes from English but was shortened and adopted into Pidgin. It’s more about connection than literally asking how someone is doing.

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