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`Ôlelo Hawai`i
Hawaiian: |
`Ôlelo Haole
English: |
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`âina
[AI' nah] |
land |
- aloha `âina
[ah loh' hah AI' nah] |
love of the land, a very old Hawaiian concept, to judge from the many sayings (perhaps thousands) illustrating deep love and reverence for the land.
e.g., the song,
Kaulana Nâ Pua
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Motto of Hawai`i
Ua mau ke ea o ka `âina i ka pono.
[oo' (w)ah mau keh(y)eh (y)AO' kah AI' nah (y)ee ka poh noh]
"The life of the land is preserved in righteousness
(harmony / balance)." |
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Akua, akua
[ah' koo (w)ah] |
God, god, goddess, spirit, ghost, devil, image, idol, corpse; divine, supernatural, godly |
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"For lack of a better term, this word is generally translated as god. However, the Polynesian concept of god does not parallel that of the traditional all-powerful, all-present divinity of Western man.
The Polynesian "gods" are the personal ancestors of the people who, with the passage of time, acquired so much mana (spiritual power) that they could do supernatural works; the gods are called upon as family members." J. Gutmanis
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- aloha akua
[ah loh' HAH' koo (w)ah] |
love of god; divine love, pity, charity |
`î
[EE'] |
supreme, best, great |
Ka `î i mamao
[kah EE' (y)ee mah mao'] |
"The supreme one at a distance" |
`i`o
[ee' oh]
Ka akua `i`o
[KAH' koo (w)ah ee' oh] |
true, genuine, significant
The true god
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`anâ`anâ
[ah NAH' ah NAH'] |
black magic; sorcery by means of prayer and incantations |
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bait; objects used in black magic, as hair, spittle, parings, excreta, clothing, food leavings.
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`aumâkua
[au' MAH' koo(w)ah] |
family or personal spiritual guide or "god"; a general term for spirits higher than human beings; deified ancestors, guardian spirits and angels who may manifest in nature; God-self, higher self. Fig., a trustworthy person. |
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A symbiotic relationship exists between person and `aumâkua, the personal guardians of each individual and their family and the ancient source gods from whom Hawaiians were descended.
`Aumâkua can manifest in nature. The form varies family to family. Whatever its form, the `aumakua is one specific shark, owl, etc. However, all members of the species are treated with respect of family members.
If family aumâkua, these manifestations were not harmed or eaten; in turn, `aumâkua warned and reprimanded in dreams, visions, and calls.
"`Aumâkua are intimate members of the human family, spiritual relationships with them are especially close and their presence is sought for feast and festivity, as well as in time of crisis. They act as healers and advisors, counteracting troubles and punishing faults." ~ J. Gutmanis
`Aumâkua could appear as: |
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owl
(as at Mânoa, O`ahu, Ka`û and Puna) |
manô
[mah NOH'] |
shark
(all islands except Kaua`i) |
`io
[ee' (y)oh] |
hawk
(Hawai`i) |
`elepaio
[eh leh pai' (y)oh] |
flycatcher bird,
goddess of canoe makers |
`i`iwi
[ee ee' vee]
`iwi
[ee' vee] |
scarlet honeycreeper bird, its feathers were used extensively in featherwork. |
`alae
[ah lae'] |
mudhen,
a black wading bird with red frontal plate; its cry is a bad omen. |
he`e
[heh' eh] |
octopus,
commonly known as squid |
puhi
[poo' hee] |
eel |
`iole li`ili`i
[ee(y)oh' leh lee' ee lee' ee] |
mice |
`iole
[ee(y)oh' leh] |
rat |
`îlio
[EE' lee (y)oh] |
dog |
mo`o
[moh' oh] |
lizard, reptile |
pe`elua
[peh' eh loo' (w)ah]
`enuhe
[ee noo' heh]
nuhe
[noo' heh]
`anuhe
[ah noo' heh]
poko
[poh' koh] |
caterpillar |
pôhaku
[POH' hah koo] |
rock |
leho
[leh' hoh] |
cowry shell |
ao
[ ao ] |
cloud |
mea kanu
[meh' (y)ah kah' noo] |
plant
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hâ
[HAH'] |
breath, also life’s breath, four; to breathe, exhale; to breathe upon after praying and before prognosticating. |
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breath of life, passing as a breeze. |
mauli ola
[mau' lee(y)oh' lah ] |
breath of life, power of healing
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heiau
[hei' (y)au']
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place of worship, shrine. |
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Some heiau were elaborately constructed, massive stone platforms, others, simple terraces. Many are preserved today.
There were heiau for treating the sick, for the increase of food crops, for insuring good fishing, for insuring or stopping rain, for mo`o (reptilian) spirits, and for success in war. |
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hô`ailona
[HOH' ai loh nah] |
omen, sign, portent, symbol |
- The `alae (mudhen) is called manu ke`u ahiahi, the bird that croaks in the evening (considered a bad omen).
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- Ka hekili pâ malo`o (the thunder without rain) is considered an omen.
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prophet, seer, magician, as in Lanikâula, powerful kâula of Moloka`i. |
kilo
[kee' loh ] |
stargazer, reader of omens, seer, astrologer, necromancer. |
nânâ ao
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cloud interpreter, one who observes the clouds; to observe omens in the clouds; seer, forecaster. |
nânâ uli
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to study the sky for omens; one who does so. |
`ôuli
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sign, omen, portent, prognostication, nature, symptom, character; mood in grammar |
ha`i `ôuli
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to prognosticate, declare the future according to signs; to interpret omens.
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ho`okupu
[hoh' oh koo' poo] |
offering, ceremonial gift-giving |
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ho`oma`ema`e `ana
[hoh' oh mah' eh mah' eh ah' nah] |
purification, spiritual cleansing |
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to purify with water; a temporary long, gabled house in which priestesses assembled for purification ceremonies. |
hi`uwai
[hee oo wai'] |
water purification festivities on the second night of the month of Welehu (near the end of the year).
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The people bathed and frolicked in the sea or stream after midnight, then put on their finest kapa and ornaments for feasting and games. |
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to absolve entirely; forgive all faults, excuse, cleanse and purify morally; pardon, atonement, absolution; ceremonial cleansing.
E huikala `oukou iâ `oukou iho
(Sanctify yourselves). |
kapu kai
[kah' poo kai'] |
ceremonial sea bath for purification |
kapukapu kai
[kah' poo kah' poo kai'] |
to purify by sprinkling with salt water (kava, ordinarily kapu to women, might be made noa, or free of kapu by sprinkling the place in this fashion, usually termed pî kai. |
kî
[KEE'] |
ti, a woody plant. Green ti leaves are believed to afford protection from spirits and to purify a menstruating woman. |
lele uli
[leh' leh (y)oo' lee] |
to dispel darkness; to purify or cleanse, as in a religious ceremony. |
lele wai
[leh' leh wai'] |
to purge, cleanse, purify with water of purification. |
pî kai
[PEE' kai']
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- to sprinkle with sea water or salted fresh water to purify or remove kapu, as formerly done after a death or after a boy's subincision.
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pî kai kea
[PEE' kai' keh'(y)ah] |
to sprinkle with white sea (from waves and not from salted fresh water) |
pî kai `ôlena
[PEE' kai' OH' leh nah] |
to sprinkle with sea water or salt water, mixed with a bit of `ôlena (ground turmeric root) to purify or remove kapu.
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ho`oponopono
[hoh' oh poh' noh poh' noh] |
mental cleansing: family conferences in which relationships are set right with prayer, discussion, confession, repentance, mutual restitution and forgiveness. |
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hula
[hoo' lah] |
Hawaiian dance with spiritual origins. |
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`ike
[ee' keh] |
to see, to know; to receive revelations from the gods |
- `ike pâpâlua
[ee' keh PAH' PAH' loo(w)ah] |
to have the gift of second sight and commune with the spirits; supernatural knowledge; E.S.P. |
haili moe
[hai' lee moe'] |
premonition, as in a dream |
hihi`o
[hee hee' oh ] |
a dream or vision, as while dozing |
mea punihei i nâ mea âiwaiwa
[meh'(y)ah poo nee HEI (y)ee NAH' meh'(y)ah (y)AI' vai' vah] |
mystic
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inoa
[ee noh'(w)ah] |
name, considered sacred; name chant or song |
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Naming has strong spiritual significance, often connected with a dream or vision. Babies are carefully and meaningfully named, and their names are alterable over time.
Often, names described personality or physical characteristics, social standing, unique skills or aptitudes, and aspirations.
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- Ola ka inoa
[oh' lah kai' noh(w)ah] |
"The name lives" (a family name is given to a child). |
He inoa no ka lani
[hei' noh(w)ah noh kah lah' nee] |
a name chant in honor of the chief |
inoa pô
[ee noh(w)ah POH'] |
dream name, as a name for an infant received in a dream; it was thought that if the name were not given, the child would be sickly or die. |
inoa `û lâ leo
[ee noh(w)ah OO' LAH' leh' oh] |
a name given to a child by a supernatural voice, usually heard right before the child's birth; a voice name.
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iwi
[ee' vee ]
nâ iwi
[NAI' vee] |
bone, the bones |
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The bones of the dead, considered the most cherished possession, were hidden, and hence there are many figurative expressions with iwi, meaning life, old age.
Kô kô iwi `âina hânau.
Your own land of birth.
Na wai e ho`ôla i nâ iwi
Who will save the bones?
Fig., who will care for one in old age and in death?
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to talk too much of one's family affairs or ancestors, to tell the cherished stories, and chants of one's ancestors ( a taunt to those who reveal too much of the Hawaiian past). |
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kaula`i lâ |
to bleach in the sun, to dry out the bones, meaning to expose the bones of the ancestors, a crime.
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kahu
[kah' hoo] |
minister, guardian |
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kahuna
[kah hoo' nah] |
priest, sorcerer, magician, wizard, expert in any profession (male or female); in the 1845 laws, medical professionals were called kahuna. |
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sorcerer who practices black magic or counter sorcery, as one who prays a person to death. |
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kahuna a`o |
teaching preacher, minister, sorcerer |
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kahuna ha`i `ôlelo |
preacher, especially an itinerant preacher |
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kahuna ho`o hâpai keiki |
medical expert who induced pregnancy |
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kahuna ho`opi`opi`o |
malevolent sorcerer, as one who inflicts illness by gesture, as rubbing his own head to give the victim a severe headache or head injury. |
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kahuna ho`oulu `ai |
agricultural expert |
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kahuna ho`oulu la hui |
priest who increased population by praying for pregnancy |
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kahuna hui |
a priest who functioned in ceremonies for the deification of a king or who detected symptoms of sorcery in one sick or dead. |
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kahuna kâ lai |
carving expert; sculptor |
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kahuna kâ lai wa`a |
canoe builder |
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kahuna ki`i |
caretaker of images, who wrapped oiled, and stored them, and carried them into battle ahead of the chief. |
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kahuna kilokilo |
priest or expert who studied the skies for omens. |
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kahuna lapa`au |
medical doctor, medical practitioner, healer. Lit., curing expert |
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kahuna makani |
a priest who induced spirits to possess a patient so that he might then drive the spirits out, thus curing the patient. Lit., spirit priest. |
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kahuna pule |
preacher, pastor, minister, parson, priest. Lit., prayer expert
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Kahu "implies the most intimate and confidential relations between the god and its guardian or keeper", while the word kahuna suggests more of the professional relation of the priest to the community" ~ Emerson |
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kala
[kah' lah] |
to forgive, pardon, excuse; prayer to free one from any evil influence; to practice counter-sorcery;
spiritual cleansing. |
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kanaka lele
[kah nah' kah leh' leh] |
angel. Lit. flying person. |
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kapu
[kah' poo] |
sacredness, holy, consecrated; prohibition; taboo |
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kuahu
[koo'(w)ah hoo ] |
altar |
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kupua
[koo poo'(w)ah] |
demigod or culture hero, especially a supernaural being possessin several forms as Kamapua`a and Laenihi; one possessing mana; to posses kupua (magic) powers. |
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la`a
[lah' ah] |
sacred, holy, devoted, consecrated, set apart for sacred purposes, dedicated. |
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place for sacred objects, treasure chest
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la`a kea
[lah' ah keh'(y)ah] |
sacred light, sacred things of day, as sunshine, knowledge, happiness. Lit., light sacredness |
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E nânâ `ia ka pulapula i ka la`a kea i ka la`a uli.
May the descendants be cared for in times of light
and times of misfortune. |
- ho`omâlamalama
[hoh' oh MAH' lah mah lah mah]
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enlighten |
kaiao
[kai' (y)ao'] |
dawn, to enlighten;
Ua kaiao kâkou
(We are enlightened). |
mâlamalama
[MAH' lah mah lah mah] |
light of knowledge, enlightenment; shining, radiant, clear |
na`auao
[nah au' (w)ao']
ao
[ao] |
enlightened
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lani
[lah' nee] |
sky, heaven; heavenly, spiritual; royal, high-born |
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brightness of heaven, a term applied to the heavenly courts of the goddesses Uli and Kapo. |
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Kuaihelani |
a famous legendary place in the high heavens, a home of the deified dead. `Elua nô mâpuna hoe, kû `oe i Kuaihelani (two paddle dips and you reach Kuaihelani). |
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Lanikeha |
legendary part of heaven; frequent name for residences of high chiefs, e.g., Kamehameha III’s residence in Lahaina. |
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lani nu`u |
highest heaven |
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papalani |
heavenly stratum, heaven and all the spiritual powers; upper regions of air, upper heavens, firmament
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makani
[mah kah' nee] |
wind, breeze; ghost, spirit; a wind priesthood with powers over mystic spirits |
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spirit that possesses a medium and speaks through him. Lit., spirit that takes possession
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mâlama
[MAH' lah mah] |
to serve, honor, as God, care, tend, protect, to care of , care for. |
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light of knowledge, enlightenment; shining, radiant, clear
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Ê ku`u Akua, e mâlama au iâ `oe ma ka no`ono`o.
O my God, let me serve you in thought. |
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mana
[mah' nah] |
supernatural or divine power, mana, miraculous power; miraculous; divinely powerful, possessed of mana, power, spiritual; spiritual essence, spiritual force (chi, ki, prana); branch. |
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"Mana is a spiritual force/supernatural power that at times shows physical manifestations. It can be acquired as a gift of the gods, through ritual, won through prayers or actions, the force of words, or through inheritance." ~ J. Gutmanis |
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to worship |
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mana loa |
great power, almighty |
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mana weu lani |
branch with divine foliage (chief) |
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manamana |
to impart mana, to deify; branches; fingers, toes |
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mana piha |
supreme, absolute power
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mana`o
[mah nah' oh] |
thought, idea, belief, meaning, suggestion, mind |
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the one thought of (the intended victim of sorcery) |
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mana`o `i`o / kûpa`a / paulele |
faith, confidence; to have confidence; to believe |
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kâlele |
To have faith
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manawa
[mah nah' vah] |
time, turn, season, date; affections, seat of emotion, heart, feelings |
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eternal, eternity |
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manawa pono / manawa kû pono |
opportune time |
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manawale`a |
a generous heart, charity, alms, donation; to give freely and willingly; gratis, free, benevolent, beneficent |
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mai kêia manawa â mau loa aku |
from now to eternity; from now on and forever
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mauli
[mau' lee] |
life, heart, seat of life; ghost, spirit |
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sun as the source of life |
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Mauliola / Lonopûhâ |
god of health / god of healing |
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mauli ola |
breath of life, power of healing |
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mauli hiwa |
choice or precious life
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mo`o
[moh' oh] |
lizard, reptile of any kind, dragon; serpent; water spirit. |
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na`au
[nah au' ] |
intestines, bowels, guts; mind, heart, affections; of the heart and mind. Fig., child. |
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kind, thoughtful, forgiving, loving, possessed of aloha, beneficent, benevolent, loving heart. |
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na`au aloha |
filled with aloha, beneficent, benevolent. |
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na`au pono |
upright; just; right-minded; upright heart
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`ohana
[oh hah' nah] |
family |
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grandparent, ancestor, relative or close relative of the grandparent’s generation, grandaunt, granduncle. |
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pôhaku
[POH' hah koo] |
rock, stone, mineral, tablet |
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sanctified stone used by a priest in `anâ`anâ sorcery; to exhibit wrath or displeasure due to jealousy. |
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kahaloa |
a stone brought before a priest in sorcery prayers. |
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pôhaku `aumakua |
stone believed possessed by an `aumakua god. |
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pôhaku kupua |
stones with mana to prolong life or cure sickness |
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pôhaku o Kâne |
Stone monuments that were places of refuge (pu`uhonua) where families made offerings, such as pig, red fish, kava, and tapas, to atone for wrong-doing. Lit., stone of Kâne.
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pule
[poo' leh] |
prayer, magic spell, incantation, blessing, church service, church; to pray, worship, say grace, ask a blessing, cast a spell. |
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Prayer is the exchange between a person and his/her god/s. Hawaiians saw manifestations of the gods everywhere, and their prayers were as frequent as conversations with close friends.
"The potency of the prayers offered to these gods comes not only from the reminders of family ties but can also come from the sincerity of the person paying, from the power inherent in the words used, and from the mana the prayers have acquired through repeated and successful use. It can also come form the skill of the one who is offering the prayer." ~J. Gutmanis |
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Finished, of a pre-Christian prayer (said almost at the end of a prayer); to finish a prayer, to pray and sacrifice. `Âmama, ua noa (the prayer is said, the kapu is over). |
`eli`eli
[eh' lee eh' lee] |
to dig often. Fig., firmly rooted, profound, deep as a kapu, or its removal; reverence. |
`Âmama, `eli`eli kapu, `eli`eli noa.
[AH' mah mah, eh' lee eh' lee kah' poo eh' lee eh' kee noh'(w)ah ] |
"The kapu is over, profound has been the kapu, profound is the freeing." |
`Eli`eli kau mai.
[eh' lee eh' lee kau' mai'] |
"May a profound reverence alight" (solemn supplication at the end of a prayer). |
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ho`ôla ma`i me ka pule / lâ`au kâhea |
faith healing |
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kuleana pule |
necessary prayers, prayer responsibilities |
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lele wale |
to fly, jump, move of one's own accord or for no reason; in ancient prayers, to speed on, as a prayer to a god. `Âmama, ua noa, lele wale (The prayer is finished, the kapu is lifted; go, prayer ( or, the kapu is lifted and quite departed). |
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pômaika`i |
blessing, blessed |
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waipâ |
request, prayer as to the gods |
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Pêlâ ka`u waihâ me ka`u waipâ aku iâ `oe e ke akua. |
"Such is my request and prayer to you, O God."
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`uhane
[oo hah' neh] |
spirit, soul, ghost |
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spiritual things |
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lele ka `uhane |
the soul leaves (death) |
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mana `uhane |
spiritual power |
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pili `uhane |
spiritual |
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po`i `uhane |
soul-snatching |
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pono `uhane |
spiritual welfare |
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pu`u kû `akahi |
tarrying place of souls |
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`uhane hau ka`e |
wandering, friendless spirits |
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`uhane hele |
a traveling spirit, usually of a living person. |
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`uhane kia`i |
guardian spirit |
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`uhane kîhei pua |
a spirit partially controlling a person and giving him strength, animation or talents. |
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`uhane noho |
a spirit possessing a person completely and talking through him. |
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`uhane `ole |
without a soul; shameless, like a beast |
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`uhane `ololi |
thin, shriveled soul or ghost
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wai
[wai] [vai] |
water |
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The sameness of a single dye. Fig., unity. |
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E wai kahi ka pono i mânalo |
Better sweeten with a single color. Fig., unity to find serenity. |
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Ho`olana i ka wai ke ola |
Life floats on water (near death) |
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wai `apo |
water caught in a taro leaf, often used in ceremonies, as it was regarded as pure in not having touched the ground. fig., beloved mate, spouse. lit., caught water. |
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wai ea |
sea water used for purification. lit., water of life. |
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wai hâ |
water upon which the hâ (breath) of the priest has been expelled in order to impart mana; to give mana by breathing upon an image or person; to request earnestly in prayer. |
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wai hua |
water-drop caught as in a taro leaf, much liked for purification and medicine, as it has not touched the earth. |
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wai hui kala |
water for purification |
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wai `ihi |
sacred blood, as of royalty. fig., prominent, royal |
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wai lani |
rain water, especially as used for medicine and purification |
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waipâ |
request, prayer, as to the gods |
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waiwai |
value, wealth, rich; richness |
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waiwai nui |
great wealth, fortune
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