Author Archives: Liana

1. nvs. Industrious, busy, hard-working; workman, laborer, worker, industry. 2. n. Implement, tool, utensil, furnishings (Nah. 7.1). Mea paʻahana, tool, workman. This word, when split into two words, gives you the BEST picture of what it means: Paʻa – stuck, firm … Continue reading →

n. Holiday, important or big day. Today we celebrate, as a state holiday, Kamehameha Day. Today is a lānui – holiday. If you separate the word into two: lā – day nui – big Written separately, it would refer to … Continue reading →

1. n. Brains, bone marrow. Kau ka lā i ka lolo, the sun rests on the brains [it is noon; usually now without other connotation, but formerly believed a time with great mana as a man’s aka (shadow, image) was no … Continue reading →

Hook; to hook, to fasten with a hook; to hook off.  2.  Very long fruit-plucking pole, with short sticks lashed obliquely near the end for plucking, as for breadfruit; to pluck.  3.  Pain in the side, stitch.  4.  Same as … Continue reading →

n. A sweet, lovely, or tender expression of face or eyes; also said of the eyes of the kole, a fish. Ā ua lilo ihola ʻoia i mea hoʻomakaleho mau ʻia e nā kaikamahine maka onaona o Kauaʻi, this became something much wanted … Continue reading →

Computer. Comb. lolo + uila. Also kamepiula, mīkini hoʻonohonoho ʻikena. Lolouila lawelima. Laptop computer. Also kamepiula lawelima. The words I choose each day are driven, frequently, by things going on in my life (#ifyouknowyouknow). Such is the case with today’s … Continue reading →

nvi. Recovered from sickness; well, after sickness; to get well, convalesce; filling out, as after loss of weight; sprouting, as a bud. Polapola iki, a little better. ho’o.pola.pola To cure, make get well; to fill out, as after sickness. Everyone … Continue reading →

nvs. To keep asking questions; inquisitive, curious, plying with frivolous questions (often used in pejorative sense, as of a busybody asking things that do not concern him); to quiz, pump; question. Yesterday’s word, maha‘oi, is often confused with today’s word, … Continue reading →

Bold, impertinent, impudent, insolent, nervy, cheeky, rude, forward, presumptuous, saucy, brazen. Anyone who has heard this word before knows it’s not a good thing. While boldness may be appreciated by some, it goes against the grain of acceptable behavior.  Mahaʻoi … Continue reading →

nvs. Rest, repose, vacation; freedom from pain; at ease, comfort. See mahamaha 2. ho’o.maha Vacation; to take a rest or vacation; to retire, stop work; to obtain relief; to pause; rest in music. There’s something about the summer. While it … Continue reading →