Reduplication of hānupa, surging, swollen; choppy, as the sea; slippery, muddy.

When I was growing up there was a catchy tune with the phrase, “E hele au ma ke kai, ma ke kai hānupanupa,” which means, I will go to the sea, the choppy sea. Then the movie, Lilo and Stitch came out and its Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride song came out with a line that goes, “ʻo ka moana hānupanupa” and follows a line about hurrying up, getting your surfboard and riding the waves. How fun!

Hānupanupa is a verb.

Ke awa hānupanupa – The surging channel

Nā ʻale hānupanupa o Paiololo – The choppy billows of Pailolo (Pailolo is the channel between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi).

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