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Glossary of Hawaiian Words

AAH

aaho
sticks for thatching
ahaaina
feast
aheahea
an edible plant
aholehole
a species of fish.
ahos
small sticks used in thatching
Ahu o Kakaalaneo
the name given to the original feather cloak
ahupuaa
a small division of a country under the care of a head man.
ahuula
a feather cloak
Ai Kanaka
man eater
aikane
an intimate friend of the same sex
Aina-i ka-kaupo-o-Kane (the land in the heart of Kane)
the primeval home of mankind
Aina kumupuaa a Kane
see Kanaka-maoli.
Aina lauena a Kane
Aina-wai-akua-a-Kane (the land of the divine water of Kane)
the primeval home of mankind
aipuupuu
chief cook or steward
akaaka
laughter
aku
a species of fish, the bonito.
akua
a deity

A-PE

akule
a species of fish.
ala
a smooth, round stone.
alae
mud-hens
alaea
red earth, of which the body of the first man was made
Alehe-ka-la
sun snarer
alii
chief.
Alii aimoku
sovereign of the land. aloha, a word betokening greeting or farewell.
Aloha ino oe, eia ihonei paha oe e make ai, ke ai mainei Pele
Compassion great to you! Close here, perhaps, is your death; Pele comes devouring
Aloha oe!
Alas for you!
anaana
prayer of a Kahuna to accomplish one's death
anae-holo
a species of fish
anahulu
a period of ten days.
Ana puhi
eel's cave
ano akua nae
but godlike
Aole!
no!
ao poko
short cloud
apapani (or apapane)
a scarlet bird
a-pe
a plant having broad leaves of an acrid taste, like kalo, but stronger.

AUK

auki
the ki leaf (Dracaena terminalis)
Aumakua
ancestral shades; god
aupehu
famine swollen
auwai
watercourse
Auwe ka make!
alas, he is dead!
awa
the name of a plant of a bitter, acrid taste, from which an intoxicating drink is made; also the name of the liquor itself, expressed from the root of the plant. (Piper methysticum).
aweoweo
a species of reddish fish.
Eia o Hana la he aina aupehu; o Hana keia i ka ia iki; ka ia o Kama; ka ia o Lanakila
Elepaio
a small green bird (Chasiempis sandwichensis)
ha
the lower stem of leaves when cut from the root
haawe
back-load
haka
a medium devoted to the cult of a god
hala
tree (Pandanus odoratissimus)
halau
shed
hau
a forest tree--a species of hibiscus.
he ekolu ula o ka la
the third brightness of the sun
hee kupua
wonderful octopus
heiau
temple.

IKI

he keehina honua a Kane
he'lii kahuli
a fallen chief
He Lualoa no Na'lii
a deep pit for the chiefs
he mau anahulu
several ten day periods.
He po hookahi
a ao ua pau
in one night, and by dawn it is finished
He waa halau Alii a ka Moku
the royal vessel, the ark
hiaku
name of a place in the sea beyond the kaiuli, and inside the kohola
Hi-ka-po-loa
a name for the godhead
Hilo
the first day (of the new moon)
hilu
a species of fish, spotted with various colors
hinahina
leaves of a gray or withered appearance
hinalea
a species of wrasse-fish. hokeo, a fisherman's gourd.
hoku kaolele
a meteor
holua
sled.
honu
sea turtle
hou
a species of fish
hula
a dance.
ieie
a decorative vine. (Freyoinetia arnotti).
iiwi
a small red bird.
i ka muli o Hea
at the rear of Hea
Ikiki
a summer month--July or August
i kini akua
spirits, angels.

IKU

Ikua
a winter month--December or January
i kuhaia
from spittle
ilalo loa i ka po
deep down into darkness
hau
the bark of the hau tree from which ropes are made
ilio
dog.
i mea ole
as nothing.
imu
oven.
iwi kuamoo
the backbone.
ka aina i ka haupo a Kane
ka aina momona a Kane
the fruitful land of Kane
kaao
legend
ka holua ana o Kahawali
Kahawali's sliding-place
kahu
keeper
Kahunas
priests
kahuna lapaau
medical priest
Kaiakahinalii
the Flood
Kai a Kahinalii
Sea of Kahinalaa
kai-ula-a-Kane
the Red Sea of Kane
kaiuli
the deep sea.
kai waena
middle post (of a house)
Kakelekele
hydropathic cure
kala
a species of fish.
Ka lae o ka ilio
the dog's forehead
Ka lae a ka laau
Kalana-i hau-ola (Kalana with the life-giving dew)
the primeval home of mankind

KAU

kalo
the well-known vegetable of Hawaii, a species of Arum esculentum; Colocasia antiquorum
kamaainas
original inhabitants, or long residents
kamani tree
Calophyllum inophyllum
kanaka
a man; the general name of men, women, and children of all classes, in distinction from animals.
Kanaka-maoli
the people living on the mainland of Kane (Aina kumupuaa a Kane)
Kane
sunlight, one of the three supreme gods
kanekoa
a deity
Kane-laa-uli
the fallen chief, he who fell on account of the tree
Kanikau
lamentation
ka one lauena a Kane
kapa
the cloth beaten from the bark of the paper mulberry, also from the bark of several other trees; hence, cloth of any kind; clothing generally.
Kapapahanaumoku
the island bearing rock or stratum
ka poe keokeo maoli
kapu
sacred.
kapu-hoano
sacred or holy days
kapuku
the restoration to life of the dead
Ka Punahou
the new spring
Kauakiowao
Mountain Mist

KAU

Kauawaahila
Waahila Rain
kau i ka lele
placed on the altar
ka-wai-ola-loa-a-Kane
water of everlasting life
kawelewele
guiding-ropes
Keakeomilu
the liver of Milu
keawemauhili
a deity
Keinohoomanawanui
a sloven, one persistently unclean
Ke po-lua ahi
the pit of fire, inferno
Ke ue nei au ia olua
I grieve for you two
ki
a plant having a saccharine root, the leaves of which are used for wrapping up bundles of food; the leaves are also used as food for cattle and for thatching.
kihei
a mantle worn over the shoulders.
kilu
play, or game
koa tree
Acacia koa.
ko' a aina aumakua
fishing-station
ko' a ia
fishing-station.
ko' a ku-ula
a temple to Ko-ula
ko' a lawaia
fishing-station
koali
same as kowali.
koas
fighting men
koele
a small division of land; hence, a field planted by the tenants for a landlord; a garden belonging to the chief, but cultivated by his people
kohola
a reef.

LAK

kolea
plover
kona
a severe storm that comes up from the equator
konane
a game like checkers.
Konohiki
feudal lord, a head man with others under him.
kou
a large shade tree growing mostly near the sea
kowali
convolvulus vine, a swing made of these vines
Ku
Substance; one of the three supreme gods.
ku
arise, stand
kuaha
a stone-paved platform
Ku-Kaua-Kaki
a triad--the Fundamental Supreme Unity
kukini
trained runner.
kuko
to wish, to lust
kukui tree
Aleurites molluccana
Kulu-ipo
the fallen chief, he who fell on account of the tree
kumukahi
east wind
Kumu-uli
the fallen tree, he who fell on account of the tree
kupa
native born person
Kupapau o Puupehe
Tomb of Puupehe
kupua
demigod
ku-ula
the fish god of Hawaiians.
Lae
cape (of land)
la-i leaves
dracaena leaves.
laka loa
very tame

LAL

lalo puhaka
lama
a forest tree (Maba sandwicensis) which has very hard wood
lana
floating
lanai
arbor
lau
four hundred
laulele
a species of turnip
lawalu
to cook meat on the coals wrapped in ki leaves
leho
cowry shell.
lehoula
a species of cowry of a red color.
lehua tree
Metrosideros polymorpha.
leiomano
shark's tooth weapon
leis
wreaths.
lele
a variety of banana
lelekawa
to jump from a height into deep water
lele kowali
swinging
Lelepua
arrow flight
lepo ula
red earth, of which the body of the first man was made
lilo ai kona ola a make iho la
his life was taken, so death ensued
limu
sea-moss
Lo Aikanaka
the last of the man-eating chiefs.
lomilomi
to rub or chafe the body.
Lono
Sound; one of the three Supreme gods.
lua
killing by breaking the bones
Lua o Milu
the nether world MAN
luau
the kalo leaf; boiled herbs; young kalo leaves gathered and cooked for food.
ma
a syllable signifying accompanying, together, etc.
maika
the name of a popular game; also, the stone used for rolling in that game
mai ka po mai
from the time of night, darkness, chaos
mai
komo mai, come, come in
maile
Alyxia olivaeformis; fine-leaved variety, Maile laulii
makaha
floodgates
makahelei
drawn eyes
makahiki
year
makai
seaward
Makakehau
Misty Eyes
malailua
goats without horns, such as were found on Mauna Loa
malau
a place in the sea where the water is still and quiet; a place where the bait for the aku or bonito is found
malos
girdles worn by the males.
mamani
or mamane (Sophora chrysophylla), a hard wood tree
manaiaakalani
mana kupua
miraculous power
manawa ole
in no time; in a short time
manienie-akiaki
a medicinal grass of the olden time

MAN

manini
a species of fish caught by diving
mane
dam; also the general name for shark.
manohae
a ravenous shark
maoli
a species of banana; the long, dark-colored plantain
mauka
inland.
Milu
inferno.
Moi
sovereign
moi
a species of fish (Threadfin) of a white color.
moo
a general name for all lizards, a serpent.
Moo-kapu
sacred lands
mua
front; the house of a man's outfit (of several) that was Kapu to all women, even his wife
Na akua aumakua o ka poe kahuna kalai waa
ancestral gods of the canoe builders
nae
the farther side
na-u
jessamine, gardenia.
noa
free of, or released from Kapu
O haehae ka manu, ke ale nei ka wai
the water is disturbed by action of the birds
ohelo
a species of small reddish berry; the Hawaiian whortleberry
ohia
native apple; also, a forest tree of several varieties.
ohia hemolele
the sacred apple-tree
ohiki-makaloa
long-eyed sand-crabs
ohua
the name given to the young of the manini fish.
Oi-e
Most Excellent
Oio
procession of ghosts
oio
a species of fish (Bonefish).
oo
digger
oopu
a species of small fish living in fresh water rivers and ponds. opae, a small fish; a shrimp; a crab.
opihi-koele
a species of shell-fish
opihis
shell-fish
pa
wall
pa
pearl shell
pa hi aku
pearl fish-hook.
pahoa
stone weapon; dagger.
pahoehoe
smooth, shining lava.
pahonua
(more correctly puuhonua), place of refuge
pahoola
a remnant, a healing piece
pahu kaeke
a temple drum
paiula
the royal red kapa of old
pakai
an herb used for food in time of scarcity.
pakai
a house joined to a house above--that is, a tower
pala
ripe, soft; also, as a noun, a vegetable used as food in time of scarcity.
pale
a director
pali
precipice.

PAL

Pali-uli (the blue mountain)
the primeval home of mankind
palolo
whitish clay, of which the head of the first man was made
pani
a stoppage, a closing up, that which stops or closes.
papa
a board; a term applied to anything of flat surface.
papa holua
a flat sled
pa-u
skirt.
pihoihoi lea
greatly excited
pili
the long, coarse grass used in thatching houses
pipipi
a temporary shelter hut
po
night, chaos
poe poi-uhane
spirit catchers
pohaku-ia
fish stone
poi
the paste or pudding which was formerly the chief food of the Hawaiians, and still is so to a great extent. It is made of kalo, sweet potatoes, or breadfruit, but mostly of kalo, by baking the above articles in an underground oven, and then peeling or pounding them, adding a little water; it is then left in a mass to ferment; after fermentation, it is again worked over with more water until it has the consistency of thick paste. It is eaten cold with the fingers.
Po-ia-milu
inferno

UHA

Po-kini-kini
inferno
Po-kua-kini
inferno
po o akua
a certain night of the month
Po-papa-ia-owa
inferno
Po-pau-ole
endless night
popolo
a plant sometimes eaten in times of scarcity, also used as a medicine.
pouhana
end post (of a house).
poumanu
corner post (of a house)
pou o manu
corner post (of a house)
pu
head or end of a canoe, or log, on which to fasten the rope to draw it down out of the river
puaa
a hog
puhala
the hala tree
puhi
eel, sea snake.
puholoholo
to cook (food) by rolling with hot stones in a covered gourd
puloulou
sign of kapu
puni ka hiamoe
a trance or deep sleep
puoa
a burial tower
Reinga
the leaping place
tapa
see Kapa
Ua
rain
ua haki ka pule
ueue
bait
uhae ia
UHU

UHU

uhu
a species of fish about the size of the salmon
uki
a plant or shrub sometimes used in thatching; a species of grass
uku
a species of fish.
Ulu kapu a Kane
the breadfruit tabooed for Kane
uo
a part of the process of feather cloak making
uwau
a species of bird; a kind of waterfowl.
waa
canoe
waa halau
see He waa halau Alii o ka Moku. WIL
Wai a Hiku
water of Hiku
Waiakoloa
Wai nao
spittle
waoke
or wauke, (Broussonetia papyrifera), the plant furnishing bark for the best Kapa
Wawa ka Menehune i Puukapele, ma Kauai, puoho ka manu o ka loko o Kawainui ma Koolaupoko, Oahu
the hum of the voices of the Menehunes at Puukapele, Kauai, startled the birds of the pond of Kawainui, at Koolaupoko, Oahu
wiliwili tree
Erythrina monosperma

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