Author Archives: Liana

1. nvi. To grow, increase, spread; growth; increase or rising of the wind; to protect (PH 116, For. 6:474). Also unu. Cf. mea ulu. Ka ulu o ka lā, the rising of the sun. Kai ulu, sea at full tide. Ulu ehuehu, to grow fast, as a … Continue reading →

1.  The breadfruit. 2.  Round, smooth stone as used in ʻulu maika game; bowling ball; bell clapper; dice. 3. Muscles in calf of leg. 4. Name for kōnane stone. This week we are going to spend some time with different … Continue reading →

2. vi. Possessed by a god; inspired by a spirit, god, ideal, person, as for artistic creation; stirred, excited; to enter in and inspire. Also unu. Manaʻo ulu wale, a thought entered of its own accord, hence fancy, impulse, imagination. … Continue reading →

vi. Depression, gutter, ravine; lines of the hand, loose skin over the eyeball; tuck in a garment, shirring, ruffling; descent, as of trail or road; of low rank (Kep. 125); to bend, duck, hang, sag, slacken, stoop; to relax; to … Continue reading →

Combined, acting together; to cooperate, act together.  It gives me great insight into the Hawaiian language when I look at the number of words that express the concept of cooperation.  We commonly hear the value of laulima, literally, many hands.  … Continue reading →

1.  nvs.  Swollen, distended; swelling; to swell; dropsy, edema.  2. n. A variety of sweet potato.  3. n. A kind of seaweed I remember whenever I was hāpai, unfailingly, my body, in one way or another, and sometimes from head … Continue reading →

nvs. Calico; variegated in color, as of croton leaves, or of a pinto horse spotted with several colors; printed cotton cloth (modern); said also of scars left after impetigo. Eng. Still sticking with the “theme” of Hawaiian words that we still … Continue reading →

1. vi. To bathe. Cf. ʻau 1, wai ʻauʻau. ʻAuʻau kai, to bathe in the sea. ʻAuʻau wai, to bathe in fresh water. Hale ʻauʻau, bathhouse. hō.ʻau.ʻau To give a bath. (PPN kaukau.) And yet another word I just don’t hear enough of today in … Continue reading →

n. Mange, impetigo, itch, itching pustules of the skin. (Kanl. 28.27.) Today’s he momi may not be your most favorite Hawaiian word but it is one that, like yesterday’s word (hoʻomalimali) you may have heard a lot growing up. Kākiʻo. Mange. … Continue reading →

1. hoʻo.mali.mali To flatter (Hal. 78.36), wheedle; to mollify with soft words or a gift; to soothe, quiet. (PPN malimali.) Check out the definition: to flatter, to mollify with soft words or a gift. Hoʻomalimali. In other words, using some sweet … Continue reading →