"The poi is in the kitchen."

Translation: Aia ka poi ma ka lumi kuke.

[deactivated user]

This might help. Dictionary defines ʻai as "Food or food plant, especially vegetable food as distinguished from iʻa, meat or fleshy food; often ʻai refers specifically to poi..."

[MacKinzieRob]

There is a similar usage in Japanese where 'rice'/'gohan' can also mean 'meal' e.g. asagohan (morning rice)= breakfast

[JamesMorga430495]

Why is the verb "to be" is used as "aia" instead of "he".? There has not been any explanation of using different forms of the verb "to be" given.

[JamesMorga430495]

How are different forms of the verb "to be", such as "aia" rather than "he" for instance?

[MichelleWevers]

Maybe aia is about where something is and He is about what or how something is? Like an equivalent? I am processing

[JamesTWils]

Weren't we using a different word for poi?

[ArgusC]

Yes, sometimes it's "ka poi" and sometimes "ka 'ai," but I wish there was a note or something somewhere to explain the difference and when to use one of the other.