He Momi e Lei ai (a pearl to wear as a lei)

He is a cock that crows in the daytime, but when night comes he sits on a perch.

This ʻōlelo noʻeau (wise saying) is said of a person who brags of what he can do, but when difficulties come he is the first to remove himself from the scene. I just LOVE ʻōlelo noʻeau that have this kind of kaona, or hidden meaning, particularly when I think of several people to whom this might apply. But like most other instances, when I begin to think of other people’s shortcomings, I try to do a self reflection and consider how I “attack” instances of difficulties. So, this ʻōlelo noʻeau becomes an opportunity for self improvement.

It is easy to brag or show off about that which comes easily, those times when your expertise is being put to good use and you are looking good. But to stick around when things are difficult, paʻakikī (hard), therein lies a more effective challenge.  That’s how we actually grow into becoming a more well rounded individual, a model to our keiki and haumāna. Becoming part of the solution rather than being part of the problem is a true indication of leadership and proactive abilities.

Rather than think about how this ʻōlelo noʻeau might apply to others, take this opportunity to look inward, think about how you react in times of difficulty, what choices you make to turn a negative situation into something positive. Don’t be a moa kani ao, a rooster that crows in the daytime, bragging about all of your abilities and accomplishments.

Have a great weekend – I hopena pule maikaʻi!

1. Tired, exhausted; stiff or aching, as from unaccustomed exercise. Also loʻeloʻe. hoʻo.mā.loʻe.loʻe Caus/sim. (Ier. 9.5.)

2. Taut, firm, as a rope. See ex., kolia 2. hoʻo.mā.loʻe.loʻe To stretch, make taut.

There was a time when I would get into different fitness routines: yoga, pilates, Zumba, Crossfit–oh, by far the worst. Wait. There is one worse than Crossfit. I forgot about the Honolulu Marathon. Whoa. I am confident that on some level, you can all relate to this feeling of māloʻeloʻe. You know. When you can’t lift your arm or sit or stand up properly the next day. And then the following day after that it is even worse. Yeah. I am thinking māloʻeloʻe is that ʻeha, that pain. Oh my gosh. Auē. Ouch. Gee, I am reliving the māloʻeloʻe as I type this!

I remember the moment I first learned this Hawaiian word. It was hula practice. And we were learning a new mele: Maikaʻi Kauaʻi, Hemolele i ka Mālie. The lines goes like this:

Māloʻeloʻe ka lāʻau, huli ʻē mai e ka pua – The tree is straight, the blossoms flourish.

A no ka loihi loa no hoi o kahi i hoe mai ai, ua hele a luhi loa kela poe, kiki ka hou, maloeloe na lima, nui ka hanu – And because of the long length of time one paddled, that person became very tired, swear poured out, hands were stiff, breathing heavily… (click here)

“E holo oe mai keia wahi aku, a hina, ala ae no holo; ina oe i maloeloe, noho iho, make oe ia’u.” – Run from this place, and if you fall, arise and run; if you become tired and rest, you will be killed by me.” (From the moʻolelo of ʻUmi)

Hope this māloʻeloʻe feeling in my arms, from working muscles not accustomed to the movement of weed pulling, digging, and composting goes away soon.

1. n. Original name for pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), as well as squash, named for their resemblance to a long-extinct gourd of the same name. See also pū.

A favorite staple of every Halloween celebration as well as the gear up for Thanksgiving is, of course, palaʻai. Pumpkin.

Palaʻai is the Hawaiian word for pumpkin and squash because this “family” of gourds resembles a long extinct gourd of the same name. You might also hear pumpkin being referred to as pū, different word, same orange fruit.

ʻOno ka palaʻai – The pumpkin is delicious.

Nui nā palaʻai ma nā mākeke – There are a lot of pumpkins in the markets.

1. Thanks, gratitude; to thank. Mahalo nui loa, thanks [you] very much. ʻŌlelo mahalo, compliment. Mahalo ā nui, thanks very much. (PPN masalo.)

2. Admiration, praise, esteem, regards, respects; to admire, praise, appreciate. ʻO wau nō me ka mahalo, I am, [yours] respectfully. Ka mea i mahalo ʻia, Mr. Pākī, the esteemed Mr. Pākī. (PEP masalo.)

Mahalo is a very well known Hawaiian word, in and outside of Hawaiʻi. It is probably the third most popular Hawaiian word, right after aloha and lei.

Mahalo is said when giving thanks or expressing appreciation for something given or done. Unlike in English, though, there isn’t really an appropriate “you’re welcome” in Hawaiian like there is in English. But since Western custom demands an answer to thank you (if you really think about it, why do we need to answer someone who is really answering in response to something done?), Hawaiian responses have been formulated, such as:

Noʻu ka hauʻoli – the pleasure is mine.

ʻAʻole pilikia – No problem.

Hiki nō – Can do.

So when someone says mahalo to you, you can respond with one of the “you’re welcome” phases above, or just smile and know that they are acknowledging a deed well done.

Mahalo is a verb.

Nui koʻu mahalo i kāna hana – I really admire his work.

E mahalo aku ʻoe i kāu kumu – Thank your teacher.

Mahalo au i ka nani o ka ʻāina – I am grateful for the beauty of the land.

Mahalo i ka mea loaʻa – Be grateful for what [you] have.

He [or she] first cleared the path and then we younger ones followed.

Said with affection and respect for the oldest sibling (hiapo).

This is an ʻōlelo noʻeau focusing on the respect that should be paid to the eldest child because they are the ones that pave the way for younger siblings. Hiapo (eldest of children) hold a certain status within a family. As keiki grow and responsibilities increase it is up to the older children to care for the younger children. Parents way back when were busy planting, fishing, making kapa and everything else that was necessary to lead a subsistent and self sufficient life.

And most certainly today we find the eldest child caring for the younger siblings, even staying home from school at times when parents cannot care for younger children who may be ill. It is a tough situation when parent(s) have to work and the young keiki get sick and those of us with more than one child know that when one child gets sick it becomes a domino effect. One after another so illness in the house can last for a couple weeks. Hard to call in sick that many days.

I paʻa iā ia ʻaʻole ʻoe e puka – If it had ended with him [or her[ you would not be here (said to a younger sibling to encourage more respect for an elder).

Brother or male cousin of a female, usually used only as term of address or as an affectionate variation of kaikunāne. (PPN tu(o)ngaʻane).

We are still spending the week learning sibling terms: kuaʻana, kaina, kuahine, and finally, kunāne. Kunāne is the word used for brother of a female. I have two kunāne, both older. More commonly used as kaikunāne.

When to use the shorter or longer version of all these terms?

kuaʻana – kaikuaʻana

kaina – kaikaina

kuahine – kaikuahine

kunāne – kaikunāne

There is a sense of “closeness” or, as stated above, affection, associated with the use of the shorter versions.

ʻElua oʻu kaikunāne – I have two brothers.

Aloha au i koʻu kunāne – I love my brother.

1. Term of address for a male’s sister or female cousin, sometimes replacing the more common kaikuahine. (PPN tuafafine.)

2. (More commonly Tuahine). Name of a misty rain famous in Mānoa, Oʻahu, named for Kuahine, who turned to rain after the murder of her daughter, Ka-hala-o-Puna; the rain is also in other localities. See ex., haʻalulu, haʻanipo.

Continuing on our familial terms theme, today’s He Momi is the word for sister of a brother. Kuahine is more frequently said as kaikuahine.

Remember, a sister of a sister is either a kuaʻana or kaina. Only a male can have refer to a sister or a female cousin as a kuahine. And unlike kaina and kuaʻana, a kuahine does not distinguish whether the sister is older or younger.

Kuahine (Tuahine) is also the name of the rain in Mānoa. “Rain Tuahine o Mānoa.” Hopefully you will hear that in a song and be able to recognize it.

He kaikuahine ko Kaleo – Kaleo has a sister.

ʻAʻohe ona kuahine – He doesn’t have any sisters.

n. Younger sibling or cousin of the same sex, as younger brother or male cousin of a male, or younger sister or female cousin of a female; sibling or cousin of the same sex of the junior line, whether older or younger. Cf. kaina, Gram. 2.7. Koʻu kaikaina, my younger sibling. hoʻo.kai.kaina To claim a kaikaina relationship; to act as a kaikaina, to address and treat as kaikaina, as from affection. (PPN t(e,a)hina.)

Yesterday we learned the word for older sibling of the same sex so it’s only appropriate that we learn the term for a younger sibling or cousin of the same sex. That word is kaina, or you will more than likely hear kaikaina. Same meaning. I remember when I had a set of twins in one of my Hawaiian language classes and they didn’t have Hawaiian names, I named one Kuaʻana and the other one Kaina. Older sister and younger sister. It is 20+ years later and they still use those names!

Don’t forget, the Hawaiian concept of family relationships is different from Western thinking. When speaking about siblings you need to consider, for siblings of the same sex, whether they are younger or older and use the appropriate terms.

ʻAʻohe oʻu kaikaina – I don’t have any young siblings the same sex as me.

He kaikaina ko koʻu kaikunāne – My brother has a younger brother.

ʻElua kaikaina o Kalaʻi – Kalaʻi has two younger sisters (Kalaʻi is a girl).

1. Term of address for older sibling or cousin of the same sex, or cousin of the same sex of the senior line of a family; also sometimes used to replace the much more common kaikuaʻana or kaikuʻana. (PEP tuakana.)

2. First brewage of liquor; mixtures following are called pōkiʻi, little brother or sister.

A few weeks ago, I shared the word, pōkiʻi, meaning younger sibling. Today’s He Momi is another word referring to the relationship between siblings.

The entire mindset of the ʻohana, for Hawaiians, is quite different from Western thinking. First of all, the word ʻohana connotes the extended family, to include all relatives, blood and by marriage. In our Western way of thinking, we think of family as referring to the nuclear family. Mom, dad, children.

So the term kuaʻana (interchanged with the more commonly used kaikuaʻana) may be difficult for some to understand. It is the term used when referring to a sibling or cousin who is older and of the same sex. So, my older sister would be my kuaʻana. On the other hand, the relationship between my brother and HIS older brother would be HIS kuaʻana. There is no term for older siblings of the opposite sex. It makes one wonder why it wo old be important to distinguish age differences for the same sex but not for the opposite. Something to ponder.

For your information, if you are female, your brothers are your kaikunāne. Males don’t have kaikunāne, they only have kuaʻana (or kaikuaʻana) and kaina (or kaikaina for younger sibling, same sex). If you are a male, your sisters are your kaikuahine. Females do not have kaikuahine.

And then on top of this, all these terms could be used for your cousins! I don’t really hear this being used today, probably because we have been westernized to the point of wanting to distinguish between cousins and siblings in our conversations in Hawaiian. Some may think this is an example of blending Western and Hawaiian concepts. Perhaps. Or maybe we are continuing to lose parts of our culture by doing this. Maybe it is just part of the evolution of language.

ʻAʻohe oʻu kuaʻana – I don’t have an older sibling of the same sex.

Ua ʻike ʻo Kaleo i kona kaikuaʻana ma kahakai – Kaleo saw his older brother at the beach.

1. nvi. Disappointed, thwarted, baffled; disappointment, frustration (Hal. 9.18). Ā hoka! Serves you right! Good for you [insulting]! hoʻo.hoka To cause disappointment, chagrin; to frustrate, thwart, put to shame (Hal. 44.7).

Ever get that feeling? Yeah. We all get there once in a while, hopefully your “whiles” are far and few between. Hoka is the kind of word you say when you lost out on something, a missed opportunity.

Hoka is a great word to know when you have children, whether in your own little hale or in school. Know a child who missed a good opportunity by dilly dallying around? Hoka. If you tell your child to hurry up and put away his toys and he takes his sweet time and finally shows up after you have put away a sweet treat. Hoka! Tough luck, braddah. Kind of like “good for you” but in a nicer way. How about when you tell your students that they better buckle down because the quarter is almost over and they have a few more assignments to complete and then they try the list minute scramble? Hoka, for sure. Everyone in your paddling crew ordered a new paddle, sight unseen, except you (because it seemed like a risky sight unseen deal). Paddles arrive, they are beautiful and your old one just broke. Hoka.

Use hoka whenever you or anyone lost out on a good thing. Just like that. Hoka.

Kū i ka ʻīpuka o ka hoka – Standing at the doorway of disappointment.

Hoka ana lākou i ke ahu ʻawa – they were straining kava dregs (they were disappointed, a pun on hoka).