nvi. Vomit; volcanic eruptions; to vomit, retch, erupt; to banish, expel, drive out, as people. (Probably PPN lua, to vomit + -ʻi or -aʻi, transitivizers: Gram. 6.6.4.).

I don’t even want to get into how this word came to mind today. It would be a TMI moment.

I do like this word, luaʻi, because it is so descriptive. Who would have thought to compare a volcanic eruption with vomiting. Got the visual? I wonder. Is it that the volcano is vomiting, or when we get sick and it all comes up, we are erupting?

Contrary to popular belief, to vomit is NOT palu. I hear that frequently from the local community. Someone gets sick, probably from drinking too much. He went PALU! Descriptive enough but it is not the word for vomit. Palu is a chum used by fishermen, particularly when fishing for ʻopelu. Granted, vomit can look like palu, and perhaps serves that purpose for those who get sick on fishing boats, however, the actual act of vomiting is luaʻi.

Luaʻi pō – literally, night vomit. referring to outcasts, as wandering souls not accepted in the realm of the dead.

ʻAi nō ka ʻīlio i kona luaʻi – A dog eats his own vomit. Said of one who says nasty things of others and then has those very things happen to himself. Ouch.

If you or your friends are prone to luaʻi spells on your nights out, help to spread the word – ke luaʻi nei ʻo ia – He is vomiting. Ua luaʻi ʻo Kalā – Kalā vomited. E luaʻi ana ke kāne – The man is going to vomit.

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