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Hawaiian Word of The Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Hawaiian Word of the Day: December 20th

By Leilani Poliʻahu

Published December 20, 2024 at 12:00 AM HST

The Hawaiian word of the day for December 20 is hāmama. Hāmama means open, like a door or a window is open.

Hāmama means open, like a door or a window is open. It should not be confused with the act of opening.

Hawaiian Word of the Day

Leilani Poliʻahu

See stories by Leilani Poliʻahu

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We used to see so many signs that read “kapu” that people joked about Kapu being a Hawaiian who owned all that land. Actually, kapu, means taboo, prohibition, or even sacredness, or forbidden. And yes, on those signs it has come to mean “keep out.”