ʻŌlelo of the Day

The Hawaiian language is flourishing! It is a living, vibrant language—unique in expression and beauty. Sharing a little Hawaiian everyday, we strive to make the language relevant and relatable. ʻŌlelo of the Day is often humorous, contemporary and reflective of current events or popculture. We hope you enjoy it. ʻŌlelo of the Day is brought to you by Hawaiʻi Book Blog

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Paiʻea

(

An edible crab with a soft shell; a familiar name of Kamehameha I; Fig., a star athlete

)

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Hawaiian Word of the Weekend:

Ahiahi

(

Evening, late afternoon

)

No ke ano ahiahi, ke aloha lā

Evening is the time I love when

ʻO ka hāliʻaliʻa ʻana mai

Fond memories come to me.

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Lei ʻāpiki

(

Naughty, mischievous lei—a name given to the ʻilima lei because it was believed to attract mischievous spirits; some did not wear this lei but others considered it lucky

)

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Kamakahi

(

An only child

)

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

ʻAhaʻaha

(

To stand with hands on hips (considered rude and overbearing)

)

He aha lā hoʻi kā ia nei e kū ʻahaʻaha mai nei?

What's he standing here haughtily with hands on hips for?

From Hawaiian Dictionary by Mary Kawena Pukui & Samuel H. Elbert

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Hawaiian Word of the Weekend:

Hoʻopuka

(

To rise, as the sun

)

Hoʻopuka ē ka lā ma ka hikina.

The sun rises in the east.

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Ēhē

(

Syllables repeated in chants at ends of verses, affording pleasure by repetition or sameness of sound harmonizing with repetition of sameness of drum beat; similar in function to English tra-la-la but different in mood, tending to be more serious

)

Eia nō ʻo Kāwika, ēhē, ka heke aʻo nā pua, ēhē.

This is David, hey, hey, the greatest of the flowers, hey, hey.

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Haupeʻepeʻe

(

To play hide and seek

)

Makemake ʻoukou e haupeʻepeʻe ma ke kahua hoʻolulu mokulele?

Do you want to play hide and seek at the airport?

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Honua

(

Earth

)

Ka honua nui a Kāne i hōʻinana a ʻahu kīnohinohi.

The great earth animated and adorned by Kāne.

Kāne is the god of fresh water and life.

From ʻŌlelo Noʻeau by Mary Kawena Pukui

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Hoʻoneʻi

(

To cause a quaking; to produce an undefined roaring, as the shouts of a moving multitude

)

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

ʻŪkihi

(

Cold sores, any sores at the corner of the mouth; Fig., to talk too much

)

Nui ka ʻūkihi a Mikaʻele.

Mikaʻele has a large cold sore.

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Hawaiian Word of the Weekend:

Hoʻokūkū

(

Contest, tournament; to cause to come or stand up together in order to test quality, as competitors in feats of skill, strength, etc.

)

E hoʻolele wā like ana ka Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni o Nā Kula ʻo Kamehameha ma KGMB a me ka Pūnaewele Puni Honua.

The Kamehameha Schools’ Song Contest is simulcast on KGMB and the World Wide Web.

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Hoʻoponopono

(

To put in order; to regulate; to correct what is erroneous

)

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

ʻŌmaʻimaʻi

(

Sick, weak, not well

)

Ua pākela koʻu inu pia i nehinei, no laila ʻōmaʻimaʻi au.

I drank too many beers yesterday and now I feel sick.

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

ʻŌmaʻomaʻo

(

Green

)

Pono nō ʻoe e komo i kekahi lole ʻōmaʻomaʻo i kēia lā, o nanahu au iā ʻoe.

You should wear something green today, or I’ll bite you.

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Pāleo

(

Record album

)

E lawe aku i kēnā mau pāleo kahiko mai ka haka kau mai.

Take those old records off the shelf.

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Hawaiian Word of the Day:

Ala

(

To waken, stay awake; awake

)

E ala ana mākou ā ao ka pō.

We’re up all night.