Hawaiian Word of the Day: April 15th

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published April 15, 2024 at 12:00 AM HST

Often we hear people talking about their ‘aumakua. It means a family god, or personal god, or a deified ancestor. Our ‘aumakua might be a shark or an owl, or even an inanimate object. It is said that ‘aumakua often warn and reprimand mortals in dreams and visions.

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

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Hawaiian Word of The Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day: April 29th

Leilani Poliʻahu

Our Hawaiian word today is a good example of the importance of putting the right stress on vowel sounds, or leaving them off. Lolo means brains, and it is from that root word that we get such new words as lolo uila: one of the words for computer – an electric brain. If you say it with stress on both vowels it becomes lōlō, and that means paralyzed, numb, feeble-minded, or crazy. Be careful how you pronounce Hawaiian words.
Hawaiian Word of The Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day: April 26th

Leilani Poliʻahu

Mā‘ili is another one of those commonly used Hawaiian place names that is so often mispronounced, frequently confused with the name of the fragrant vine used as a lei. Today's Hawaiian Word of the Day is Mā‘ili, the name of the community on the Leeward O‘ahu coast. Māʻili is the name of a beach park, surfing area, playground, school, and more.