Nâ Waiho`olu`u
Colors

 

'Âhinahina
[AH' hee nah hee nah]

Grey

`Âkala
[AH' kah lah]

Pink

`Ele`ele
[eh' leh eh' leh]

Black

Ke`oke`o
[keh' oh keh' oh]

White

Melemele
[meh' leh meh' leh]

Light Yellow, Blonde

Lenalena
[leh' nah leh' nah]

Orange Yellow

`Ôma`oma`o
[OH' mah oh mah' oh]

Green

Polû
[poh LOO']
From English, as of eyes, clothes or Western objects, but not of the sea or sky.

Uliuli
[oo' lee oo' lee]
Also means any dark color, such as ocean or mountains seen from a distance.

Blue

Poni
[poh' nee]
Associated with the first glimmer of dawn

 

Pôpolohua
[POH' poh leh hoo' (w)ah]
Purplish-blue, as sea and clouds.

Purple

`Ula`ula
[oo' lah oo' lah]
A sacred color associated with royalty

 

 

 

Red

  • Orange = `Âlani [AH lah nee]
  • Brown = Palaunu [pah lau' noo] (from English)
  • More on colors.

 

`Âhinahina ka `âhinahina,
he mea kanu maoli ma nâ moku o Maui a me Hawai`i.
The silversword, an indigenous plant on Maui and Hawai`i islands, is grey.

 

`âhina = blue denim cloth, dungarees, blue jeans

`âhina = white, gray- or white-haired

 

`Âkala nô ia hôkele kaulana.
That famous hotel is pink indeed.

`Akala = two endemic raspberries and the thimbleberry

Pink eye = maka `ula`ula

Pink mist = noe `ula

`Ele`ele loa ka pô`ele`ele o ka pô Muku.
The darkness of the night Muku
(the last night of the waning moon)
is really black.

Blackberry = `ôhelo `ele`ele

Blackboard = papa `ele`ele

Black coral = `êkaha kû moana

Black-and-blue skin, after bruising = uli mâhole ka ili

Black eye = maka uli / uli ka maka

Black magic (malevolent sorcery) = `anâ`anâ

Black market = makeke mawaho o ke kânâwai (market outside of the law)

Blackout = ho`o pôuliuli

Black Sea = Kai `ele`ele

Black smith = ku`i hao (hit iron)

Ke ke`oke`o mai o ka nalu.
The whiteness of the (breaking) waves.

Egg white = kauô ke`oke`o

White-hot = lehuli`u

Ke`oke`o = white muslin

Whitecaps = ehu kai

White man = haole, `ilipuakea, hauhole (slang)

White wash = pa`i puna

Melemele

Yellowfin tuna = `ahi

Yellow jacket = hope`ô

Yellow Sea = Kai Melemele

`O Lenalena ka inoa o ka ua kaulana o Hanalei ma Kaua`i.

`Ôma`oma`o he `ôma`oma`o.
An emerald is green.

green thumb = lima ulu

green fruit = hua maka

greenhouse = hale ho`oulu mea kanu

Greenland = `Âina `Ôma`oma`o

Green rose = loke lau

Greens (edible) = lau `ai `ia

Polû

Blue eyes = maka polû

Blue jeans = `ahina

Bluebloods (aristocracy) = ali`i

Uliuli

Deep blue sea = kai uli

Evergreen = uli mau

Poni

Nani ka `ili `ula`ula Hawai`i.
Brown Hawaiian skin is beautiful.

`Ula`ula

red hair (of Caucasians) = po`o `ula`ula

red hair (of Polynesians) = `ehu

red bird = manu `ula`ula

Red Cross = Hui Ke`a `Ula`ula

Red-eyed = mâkole

Red-hot = `ena

Red pepper = nîoi

Red River = Muliwai `Ula`ula

Red Sea = Kai `Ula 

 

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