HWOTD

You've heard us talk so often about vowels, you've probably wondered if there is a Hawaiian word for vowel. Yes, though it is a borrowed one, woela means vowel. The woela in Hawaiian are a, e, i, o, and u.

Our Hawaiian word for today is lei ʻāʻī.  It can mean neck lei, but it can also mean a necktie. Some businessmen and lawyers wear lei ʻāʻī to work in Hawaiʻi.

Pōhaku means “stone.” Don't confuse the pōhaku with the little pebbles we call ʻili ʻili -  it must be larger than an ʻili ʻili to be a pōhaku.

Koʻolau means windward. A very appropriate name for a mountain range that runs up the windward side of the island of Oʻahu. It can be used as an adjective too, to describe something that is on the windward side.

Manuahi means free, as in no charge. Not many things are really free, but some of the best things in life are manuahi. Hawaiʻi Public Radio offers this Hawaiian Word of the Day program manuahi.

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 lāʻau.

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

Huakaʻi 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 huakaʻi, just as a trip to Japan is a huakaʻi. Next time you plan a trip, call it a huakaʻi.

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

Our Hawaiian word of the day is poelele, a word that ancient Hawaiians had no need for. Poelele means satellite, it's a flying round object.

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 notice 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?

Poʻomanaʻo is the headline – the thought heading, as above a story in a newspaper.

Mua means first. And today is the first day of a new year. You might say it is the lā mua o kēia makahiki no. It may also mean: before, ahead, forward, in advance, future, front, former, foremost, primary, and many other things.

Mele means song, anthem, or chant of any kind; a poem; or to sing or to chant. Na mele o Hawaiʻi nei means the songs of Hawaiʻi.

ʻĀkau means north when used as a direction. But is more commonly used to mean right, as opposed to left.

Akahele means “slow or moderate, cautious, prudent.” So when someone tells you “e akahele ʻoe” it means “be careful.” Be careful when you are driving this holiday. 

If you are like most families, you are still eating leftover turkey from the holidays. In Hawaiian, we call that popular bird pelehū.

Today is Christmas Day, and the Hawaiian word for today is lā kalikimaka. Lā means day. Kalikimaka, of course, is a borrowed word, and that is how we say Christmas.

Hereʻs a Hawaiian Word of the Day that is clearly borrowed, and certain to be popular with the youngsters. Pai pika means pizza. Think of the fun you can have adding modifiers to that Hawaiian word!

Our Hawaiian Word of the Day is one for the sports fans, hoʻomaha hapalua is how we say halftime. Whether you are a football fan or a basketball fan, remember hoʻomaha hapalua is halftime.

Hiapo means first born. It is used often in Hawaiian to describe the eldest child, the first born. Like many cultures, there is a special significance attached to being the first born, or hiapo, in a Hawaiian family.

Our Hawaiian Word for today is wilipā, for "disc jockey." It is sort of like spinning a platter.

Our Hawaiian Word of the Day is the passive form of hānau, meaning to give birth. We often hear it used incorrectly, and should say hānau ʻia if we are talking about the person born, rather than the one giving birth.

Our Hawaiian word for today is awāwa meaning valley. Many place names are names of valleys, such as: ke awāwa o Mānoa on Oʻahu, ke awāwa o Waipio on Hawaiʻi and ke awāwa o Halawa on Molokaʻi.

Mōʻī means king, sovereign, monarch. And mōʻī followed by the word wahine means queen. The word mōʻī is of recent origin, and may be used by itself to mean a monarch of either gender.

Our Hawaiian Word of the Day is mana. Mana means “supernatural, or divine power, miraculous power, authority.” We often talk about people who have special mana, or powers. A leo mana is a voice of authority that is obeyed.

Our Hawaiian word for today is a well-known place name on Kauaʻi, Poʻipū. It is often mispronounced because people see the first three letters as a group and pronounce it as they would poi. It means crashing, as in wave action.

Kūkulu means to build or construct, or erect as a house. You can also use kūkulu to mean set up, such as a tent, or to found, such as a society.