vi. 1. Sarcastic, rude, tart, impertinent, insolent.

Yesterday’s word, hoʻokano, referred to being haughty or conceited. Another similar word is kīkoʻolā, downright RUDE. This wasn’t a word used when I was growing up, unlike hoʻokano which was heard and used frequently. I learned kīkoʻolā when my keiki were at Pūnana Leo o Honolulu. Gosh, those were good times with Kumu Ipo, Kumu Ulu and Kumu Lolena. After taking over six years of Hawaiian language in high school and college, I must admit I never really understood until I began communicating with my own children.

Kīkoʻolā kāu hana – What you are doing is RUDE.

Keu nō hoʻi ʻoe he keiki kīkoʻolā – My goodness, aren’t you the rude child!

Copyright:

2015 – Liana Iaea Honda. All rights reserved. All versions of He Momi e Lei ai”, in its entirety, past and present, is the property of L. K. I. Honda. Reproduction and use of any kind other than the sharing of this website is prohibited. Alteration to the original content in any form is prohibited in every and any instance, and use in any other variant is prohibited without written consent of the author. Adress inquiries to: hemomi [at] gmail.com. Definitions and wise sayings are from: Hawaiian Dictionary by Pukui and Elbert, 1986. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau – Hawaiian Proberbs & Poetical Sayings by Mary Kawena Pukui, 1983.