trying to find an on-line Hawai'ian translation for 'thank you'

Easy-peasy
Mahalo.



That is a very hard phrase to translate into Maori, as there is no specific phrase meaning "thank you." The phrase most commonly used is "kia ora", which is also both a greeting and a farewell. The formal expression of thanks, most often used in religious or ceremonial situations, is, "nga whakawhetai kia koe." Given the similarities between the Polynesian languages, striking differences like this fascinate me.

kia ora mai