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Manapua
01
(Hawaii) a steamed or baked pork bun, often filled with savory ingredients
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
manapuas
What does "manapua" mean in Hawaii slang?
The structure is a simple noun borrowed from Hawaiian Pidgin, derived from the Chinese "mei (sweet) bao (bun)," altered over time to "manapua." It is used in Hawaii to describe a steamed or baked pork bun, often filled with savory ingredients like char siu (barbecue pork), chicken, or other fillings, sold at lunch wagons, convenience stores, and bakeries. People typically say "I'll grab a manapua for lunch" or "Manapua is my favorite snack."
Examples
I grabbed a manapua from the bakery for breakfast.



























