Mahalo is a Hawaiian word meaning thanks, gratitude, admiration, praise, esteem, regards, respects. According to the Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, it is derived from the Proto-Polynesian *masalo.[1]
Some sources support that the meanings 'thanks' and 'gratitude' were appended to the word following contact. While the word mahalo is found in Lorrin Andrews' 1865 dictionary, the English-Hawaiian section does not provide any Hawaiian word intended to mean gratitude or thanks.[2] Also, early visitors noted that the Hawaiians were generous and grateful people, but had no word to express gratitude or to say "thank you."[3][4]