Hoping some of the local posters can help me out - I know that the Hawaiian word "ono" means delicious, but can it also be used to mean "the best"?
Mahalo - Dianne

I don't think it's usually used to mean "the best." That's what "da kine" is for (although that's not what da kine traditionally means).

I believe "no ka oi" means the best

Well...

ono = large mackeral
`ono = delicious, etc.
Those diacritical marks are very important in the Hawaiian language...as demonstrated by this one 3-letter word! 8-)

sunburn1944 is correct -- "no ka oi" is used to exclaim that something is "the best", and _follows_ the noun (as in the well-known "Maui no ka oi").

Thank you so much Auntie Maria - I knew about the diacritical mark, but completely forgot when I was posting. Thank you again for the lesson!
Dianne

Can someone please tell me how to pronounce the word no ka oi? I received a shirt from Maui with this word and have no clue. Thank you

It's pronounced like how it looks:
"no" "ka" "oy" (Like in toy)

Use "ono" for "the best?" Not unless you want to be laughed at mercilessly by the locals! "Ono" should only be used for "delicious."

And "da kine" will also get a bunch of giggles if you use it for "the best." It's also not Hawaiian. It's pidgeon english and used extensively in Hawaii by the locals. It's usually used when a person can't remember what he was trying to refer to.