Hawaiian Word of The Day

We all use postage, so today's Hawaiian word should come in handy. Uku leka is how we say postage in Hawaiian. Uku is payment, and leka is letter, so what you pay to send that letter is uku leka.

Mea kanu means plant, like that potted one you have in your office or living room. It is a planted thing, a mea kanu. Don't confuse it with that big tree outside, that's a kumu lā’au.

The kōlea, or Golden Plover, is an amazing migratory bird that arrives in Hawai’i about August. And stays here through the winter months, leaving in May for the Arctic. The kōlea are here right now, look for them!

Huaka’i is Hawaiian for trip, voyage, journey, mission, procession, even a parade. It doesn't have to be a long voyage or flight. A trip to Maui is a huaka’i, just as a trip to Japan is a huaka’i. Next time you plan a trip, call it a huaka’i.

Our Hawaiian word for today is lehulehu as in Lekiō o ko Hawai‘i lehulehu: Hawai‘i Public Radio. Lehulehu means “multitude, crowd, great number, population, the public.” It can also mean “numerous, very many, innumerable.”

For many years one of the most important products of Hawai‘i was the hala kahiki, or pineapple. Come to think of it, the fruit which was introduced to Hawai‘i from a foreign place does resemble the fruit of the hala, or Pandanus tree.

Our Hawaiian word of the Day is inoa kapakapa. Inoa means name. Together inoa kapakapa means nickname, pen name, or a fictitious name, an alias, or assumed name. Mark Twain was an inoa kapakapa.

You may have noticed during the recent holidays that Hawaiian turkeys don't gobble, they say “kolo kolo.” Yes, the sounds attributed to animals vary from language to language. Kolo kolo means gobble gobble.

Mea hana keaka means actor or actress, such as your favorite of staged or screen. Who is your favorite mea hana keaka?

Po‘omana‘o is the headline – the thought heading, as above a story in a newspaper.