`Ôlelo No`eau O Ka I`a
[OH' leh loh noh eh (y)au' oh ka ee' ah ]
Hawaiian Fish Sayings

Source: Pukui, Mary Kawena and Elbert, Samuel, HAWAIIAN DICTIONARY, UH Press, 1986.

 

A la`a kô kû i ke a`u.

So, you got stabbed by a swordfish.

You got into trouble.

 

`Olo `olo aku nô i hope,
kû i ke a`u. 

Lagging behind, struck by a swordfish.

 

Mai pi`ikoi i ka `ama`ama.

Don’t strive for the `ama`ama.

Be satisfied with what you have, why look for a rich person.

 

He moi ka i`a, ehu ka lani.

A threadfish the fish, misty the sky.

Said of an easy victory.

 

`Ôpelu ana.

A satisfied mackerel scad

One that has escaped after eating the bait.

  

Huki i ka ulua!

Pull in the ulua!

Bring in your man!

  

`A`ole nô wau i mahu`i mue,
e lilo ana `oe i ulu na`u.

(from a song)

I never thought before that you’d be my sweetheart.

 

Ua loa`a akula ka i`a `o ka `û`û.

The soldiers have (just) been caught.

One has cause to sigh or grieve, a play on `û, to sigh

 

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