1. To yearn for; to be in love with; to love, desire, long for.
2. Drowsy, languid, sleepy.
Ah, surely we have all experienced nipo at one time or another...maybe even a few times! This yearning or desire for a loved one must have been highly regarded by Hawaiians because there are several "yearning" type words, such as ʻiʻini, ake, and hoʻohihi.
If you put hoʻo- in front of nipo, hoʻonipo, then it means to make love, court, woo, yearn for. This word is quite powerful and pretty straightforward. Use it well.
Interesting to note that nipo also means drowsy or sleepy, perhaps because of all the sleep we lose when we can think of nothing else but that special someone.
ʻO ka holu nape a ka lau o ka niu, hoʻonipo ana lā i ke ehu kai - swaying, dipping of the coconut fronds, making love in the sea spray.
E hoʻi i kapili e kuʻu ipo, e neneʻe mai, e nanea mai, e ke aloha, e hoʻonipo kāua - Let's get back together, my sweetheart, move closer, relax and enjoy, my beloved, and let's make love (from Kealiʻi Reichel's E Hoʻi i ka Pili)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Hulu
1. Feather, quill, plumage.
2. Esteemed, choice, precious.
3. fur, wool, fleece, human body hair.
4. Kind, nature, color.
5. Hackle; fishhook with barb on the outside.
6. Brush.
7. Muscle attaching a bivalve to rocks.
8. Seal.
9. Cloth.
Of all these translations the first three seem to be the most well-known and widely used so we'll concentrate on those. Below are some explanations referring to the specific translations:
1. Hulu refers to the feathers or plumage of birds. Hulu manu - bird feather (often "manu" follows hulu when referring to feathers to differentiate it from the fur of any animal).
Ka hulu 'i'iwi nani - the beautiful ʻiʻiwi bird feathers
2. Frequently the elderly are often referred to as hulu kupuna - esteemed grandparent. The translation of esteemed or prized might be related to the fact that bird feathers were highly prized in Hawaiʻi and used in symbols of royalty such as capes, lei and helmets.
3. Any human hair, with the exception of the hair on the top of our head (which is lauoho) is known as hulu or huluhulu. Similarly, any fur on animals is also hulu.
He huluhulu kau i ka puka ihu - Hair growing inside of the nostril (said in envy of a person who is regarded as a favorite by a superior--he is so closely allied to the person that he is likened to a hair in the other's nostril. Also said in criticism of one who is made too much of).
2. Esteemed, choice, precious.
3. fur, wool, fleece, human body hair.
4. Kind, nature, color.
5. Hackle; fishhook with barb on the outside.
6. Brush.
7. Muscle attaching a bivalve to rocks.
8. Seal.
9. Cloth.
Of all these translations the first three seem to be the most well-known and widely used so we'll concentrate on those. Below are some explanations referring to the specific translations:
1. Hulu refers to the feathers or plumage of birds. Hulu manu - bird feather (often "manu" follows hulu when referring to feathers to differentiate it from the fur of any animal).
Ka hulu 'i'iwi nani - the beautiful ʻiʻiwi bird feathers
2. Frequently the elderly are often referred to as hulu kupuna - esteemed grandparent. The translation of esteemed or prized might be related to the fact that bird feathers were highly prized in Hawaiʻi and used in symbols of royalty such as capes, lei and helmets.
3. Any human hair, with the exception of the hair on the top of our head (which is lauoho) is known as hulu or huluhulu. Similarly, any fur on animals is also hulu.
He huluhulu kau i ka puka ihu - Hair growing inside of the nostril (said in envy of a person who is regarded as a favorite by a superior--he is so closely allied to the person that he is likened to a hair in the other's nostril. Also said in criticism of one who is made too much of).
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Mano
1. Many, numerous, four thousand; thick.
2. To throw, as a stone; to aim at and hit.
3. Short for Mano-ka-lani-pö.
This is not the word for shark. That word is manō (pronounced mah-NOH). Big difference. Mano, more frequently than not, refers to a large number. See, Hawaiians didn't have precise big numbers like we do today. I mean, in our lives today it's important to know whether we have $4,839.00 versus $4,622.79. Well, at least to most people. But in traditional Hawaiʻi, if it was around 4,000 it was mano. Also manomano (there's one of those reduplicated words, a common occurence in Hawaiian). There are other words that refer to great numbers, such as kini, lehu, lau.
Mano is also short for Manokalanipō, famous ruler in ancient times of Kauaʻi. In fact, Kauaʻi is known to many as Kauaʻi o Mano (Kauaʻi of Mano) or Kauaʻi o Manokalanipō.
He lau ka puʻu, he mano ka ihona - many hills, numerous descents (said of trouble)
Ua nui a manomano ka ʻikena a ka Hawaiʻi - Great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiian.
2. To throw, as a stone; to aim at and hit.
3. Short for Mano-ka-lani-pö.
This is not the word for shark. That word is manō (pronounced mah-NOH). Big difference. Mano, more frequently than not, refers to a large number. See, Hawaiians didn't have precise big numbers like we do today. I mean, in our lives today it's important to know whether we have $4,839.00 versus $4,622.79. Well, at least to most people. But in traditional Hawaiʻi, if it was around 4,000 it was mano. Also manomano (there's one of those reduplicated words, a common occurence in Hawaiian). There are other words that refer to great numbers, such as kini, lehu, lau.
Mano is also short for Manokalanipō, famous ruler in ancient times of Kauaʻi. In fact, Kauaʻi is known to many as Kauaʻi o Mano (Kauaʻi of Mano) or Kauaʻi o Manokalanipō.
He lau ka puʻu, he mano ka ihona - many hills, numerous descents (said of trouble)
Ua nui a manomano ka ʻikena a ka Hawaiʻi - Great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiian.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Kiele
Gardenia
This is the generic word used in Hawaiian for any type of gardenia. I do believe this is a form of an older Polynesian word (tiale) and you can see the similarity in its sound with the name of the Tahitian gardenia that we see a lot of here in Hawai'i, tiare (roll the r on this one, please!).
Many people do not know, however, that Hawaiʻi has a native gardenia of its very own, that is not found anywhere else (it's endemic to Hawaiʻi). It is known as nānū or nāʻū. Fortunately, after being endangered in the wild for so long (which prevented its propogation for home use), it was fairly recently put on the list of endangered plants that can be propogated and grown in gardens. So that means that you can search out nurseries, buy a nāʻū plant and grow it at home! How special is that? You would help save this endangered plant AND have a sweet smelling flower. Its scent, like all kiele varieties, is exquisite! If you can get by the cost (upwards of $15) then it would surely be considered an investment in our 'āina.
This is the generic word used in Hawaiian for any type of gardenia. I do believe this is a form of an older Polynesian word (tiale) and you can see the similarity in its sound with the name of the Tahitian gardenia that we see a lot of here in Hawai'i, tiare (roll the r on this one, please!).
Many people do not know, however, that Hawaiʻi has a native gardenia of its very own, that is not found anywhere else (it's endemic to Hawaiʻi). It is known as nānū or nāʻū. Fortunately, after being endangered in the wild for so long (which prevented its propogation for home use), it was fairly recently put on the list of endangered plants that can be propogated and grown in gardens. So that means that you can search out nurseries, buy a nāʻū plant and grow it at home! How special is that? You would help save this endangered plant AND have a sweet smelling flower. Its scent, like all kiele varieties, is exquisite! If you can get by the cost (upwards of $15) then it would surely be considered an investment in our 'āina.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Pua Kenikeni
small tree, flowers (fagraea berteriana), fruit, fragrant, used for leis.
Today's word is especially for my dear friend, E. Kaiponohea Hale. His favorite lei is the lei pua kenikeni. Like the pua kenikeni, kaipo is strong, VERY sweetly scented, leaving you dizzy, and yet you should take the time to enjoy the beauty from afar or up close, next to your bosom.
It's pua kenikeni blossoming time, people. If you see a blossom on the tree, whether it's in its early stage as white or just turning yellow or in its deep orange state, pick it, enjoy it, even when it has bruises on it and is withering because its smell is just as sweet. Of course we all know pua means flower, but I bet most of you don't know that kenikeni is the word for dime or 10 cents. Yes, it's the 10 cents flower, because it is said that at one time they were sold 10 cents apiece. well worth its price, I assure you. Nowadays, you can buy those fimo dough looking flowers for your hair or a fake pua kenikeni lei for your neck. Good if you're on the mainland or want to dress up your muʻu on an out of season occasion, but when you have a chance, there is no substitution worthy of its beauty, its fragrance. Splurge. Buy a lei, pick a flower. And enjoy the pua kenikeni. And think of my hoaaloha, Kaiponohea!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Pīkake
The Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac), introduced from India, a shrub or climber, with rounded, dark-green leaves and small, white, very fragrant flowers used for lei.
Once you've seen/worn/smelled pīkake, you never forget it. mostly it's the aromatic fragrance. But also its delicate features, so many little white petals, sewn close to each other, releasing more and more scent as its buds begin to unfold. It's no wonder that many, many Hawaiian songs have been composed for this flower. I'm sure many sweethearts were likened to the pīkake flower when they were composed, too!
The pīkake was the favorite flower of Princess Kaʻiulani (the most elegant and beautiful of aliʻi, many pictures of her grace books and walls; she was the daughter of Princess Likelike [sister of Kalākaua & Liliʻuokalani] and Archibald Cleghorn, so she possessed that beautiful hapa haole look). And because her favorite bird was the peacock, she gave the flower the same Hawaiian name as the peacock...pīkake. did you notice how it sounds just like "peacock?" Clever. A beautiful flower and a beautiful bird. I'm sure we can all agree the princess had impeccable taste.
Ke ʻala o ka pīkake, ke moani mai nei - The fragrance of the pīkake is wafting towards me.
ʻO ka lei pīkake ka lei punahele a Uluwehi - The pīkake lei is the favorite lei of Uluwehi.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Pakalana
the chinese violet (Telosma cordata), which has yellowish-green flowers
Since mokihana is not plentiful, is costly, and is not available but for a few months beginning in or around March, I do have a second favorite lei and that is the pakalana. Its Hawaiian name actually comes from the flower's Chinese name: Paklan. This fast growing vine enjoys hot weather so it grows quite well in areas such as Waiʻanae and Molokaʻi. Fetching an easy $5 a strand it can be quite costly as one strand is not enough...3 is a minimum. Its delicate petals can be revitalized by a nice cold bath in water. Its scent wafts gently into the house if you plant it in strategic places in the yard. Give it a good trellis and you needn't do much more except watch for the bees, although they don't both humans when they have pakalana to keep them fed. Want a nice lei to give to someone on a special occasion? When in season, order pakalana. Though not as popular as pīkake it is just as sweet!
E lei i ka lei ʻala onaona, ʻo ka pakalana - where the sweet scented lei, the pakalana.
ʻO ka pakalana kekahi lei punahele - The pakalana lei is a favorite lei.
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