Friday, October 16, 2009

ʻaweʻawe

1.  pack, knapsack carried on the back.  runners, as on a vine; tentacles.

    In English we refer to the tentacles of an octopus (or a squid) as legs.  In Hawaiian they are not legs.  They are 'awe'awe.  Interestingly, this is the same word used for the rawhide twine on a saddle.  It's the rigging that attaches the saddle to the cinch.  And there is some resemblence between the tentacle and the twine, particularly when it is braided and especially when there are several braids.

    This word also refers to carrying on the back,like a backpack, which is known as an 'eke hā'awe or pāiki hā'awe.

'Ewalu 'awe'awe o ka he'e - an octopus has 8 tentacles.

Maika'i ka 'awe'awe o ka noholio - The 'awe'awe of the saddle is good.

He 'awe'awe ko ka 'uala - The sweet potatoes have runners.

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