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Since May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi, there are many lei day pageants happening at this time of the year. Most include a royal court, and a hōʻike — a show! Hōʻike means “to show.” -
Our Hawaiian Word of the Day is moku. We often use moku to mean a district, an island, severed portion, or fragment, or as the root for other common words such as mokuahi for steamship, mokuʻāina for state, mokulele for airplane, or a mokuluʻu for a submarine, a diving ship. But the first use of moku means to be cut, severed, amputated, broken in two. There are many opportunities every day to use that common word, moku.
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Everyone is familiar with the word hānau from the popular greeting “hauʻoli lā hānau,” but many mispronounce it and often use it incorrectly. Hānau means to give birth. To say that one was born, requires adding the passive article ʻia, as in, “Hānau ʻia ʻo Kaʻimi Pono” – Kaʻimi Pono was born. In either case, be sure to stress the first vowel. -
Our Hawaiian Word of the Day is lānai, a term often used, and most often mispronounced or confused with other similar words. It means porch, veranda, balcony, booth or shed. Don't confuse it with lanai which means stiff backed like a chair, or Lānaʻi, the name of the island. Today's word is lānai – say it with a stress on the first vowel. -
Every evening when we look into the sky, and see the planet Venus, we should remember that the stars and planets have Hawaiian names. And hōkūloa, our Hawaiian Word of the Day, is what we call Venus. -
Ho‘opulapula means to rehabilitate. That's why we use it to describe homestead lands. They're called ‘āina ho‘opulapula, lands for the rehabilitation of Hawaiians/Homestead lands. -
You've all heard the word ipo for sweetheart or lover. Here's another one! Try huapala. Huapala literally means “ripe fruit.” It's another way to say “sweetheart” in Hawaiian. -
A moʻolelo is a story, a tale, a myth, a tradition, or even a record of something happening. All the stories you read in the newspaper or hear on television are moʻolelo, even those regarded as news. -
Mana is another Hawaiian word we often hear in English conversation. People will tell of someone or something having mana – supernatural or divine power. It is also a good adjective, and someone with a leo mana is said to have an authoritative voice. -
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. -
A kupua is a demi-god, or cultural hero, especially a supernatural being possessing several forms, one possessing magical powers. Kupua can often change their form and may assume non god-like, very everyday things. -
Peʻe means to hide. Not to be confused with hiding something. Peʻe means to hide oneself, as when we play hide and seek. E peʻe ana au – I'm hiding!
