Hawaiian Word of the Day: Honua
By EditorFiled in Ka Mo‘omeheu Hawai‘i / Hawaiian Culture, ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i / Hawaiian Language |
Tags: Hawaiian language, Hawaiian Mythology, Hawaiian word of the day, ka honua nui a Kāne, Kāne, Pele, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi
Today’s Hawaiian word of the day is honua, or world, earth, or land. It may also mean fundamental.
There is a quite beautiful ʻōlelo noʻeau (traditional saying) that refers to this great earth of Kāne, the Hawaiian akua of fresh water and life.
Ka honua nui a Kāne i hōʻinana a ‘ahu kīnohinohi.
{The great Earth animated and adorned by Kāne.}
You can sense this greatness of the honua when you can gaze on a sight like the cliffs of Molokaʻi Nui a Hina above.
The creator of new land, the goddess Pele is also called ka wahine ʻai honua, the earth-eating woman.
For a word that seems to evoke such stability, honua can also mean quite the opposite. Its other meaning is suddenly or abruptly.
- Ua nalowale honua ʻo ia. She suddenly disappeared.
With all the challenges facing this honua nui a Kāne, may we all come together to protect this amazing creation.
Sources:
- Pukui, ʻŌlelo Noʻeau
- Pukui and Elbert, Hawaiian Dictionary.
Image used under Creative Commons license
