Olelo No'eau Hawaiian Phrases and Proverbs
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The following are some Hawaiian proverbs which have been preserved and handed down from generation to generation through Hawaii's oral tradition. The sayings were gathered by Mary Kawena Pukui and can be found in 'Olelo No'eau , Bishop Museum Press.

OLELO NO'EAU HAWAII 2012

 

 

 

 February 2012 (Pepeluali)

Nakeke ka ua I ka lau o ka niu

 

Rain patters on the coconut leaves

Said of idle talk

 

Iānuali  (January) 2012

E lawe i ke a'o a mālama a e `oi mau ka na`auao

 

Take what you have learned and apply it and your wisdom will increase.  .

 

It is a reminder to us that when we learn and gain 'ike, we have a kuleana, a responsibility to apply, to use it, to share it with others

 

OLELO NO'EAU HAWAII 2011

 

 

November 2011

Aloha mai no, aloha aku; o ka huhu ka mea e ola 'ole ai.

 

When love is given, love should be returned. Anger is the thing that gives no life.

 

July 2011

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASES

 

I ulu no ka lala i ke kumu.

 

The reach of a tree's branches depends on its trunk.

 

A family's unconditional love strengthens each one to succeed.

 

June 2011

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASES

 

 

E ho`ohuli ka lima I lalo

 

Turn the hands down.

 

When the palm of the hands face down they are occupied and productive.

 

May 2011 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASES

 

Nānā ka maka; hana ka lima

 

Observe with the eyes; work with the hands 

 

Translation:  Just watching isn’t enough.  Pitch in and help.

 

(Please remember Japan in your thoughts, do what you can to assist)

 

 

April 2011

Kulia i ka nu'u

Strive for the summit.

Explanation: Strive for the very top of the mountain, strive for excellence. This was the motto of Hawaii's Queen Kapi'olani who did so much for her people.

 

March 2011

Kulia i ka nu'u

Strive for the summit.

Explanation: Strive for the very top of the mountain, strive for excellence. This was the motto of Hawaii's Queen Kapi'olani who did so much for her people.

 

 

February 2011

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASES

'Ike aku, 'ike mai, kokua aku kokua mai; pela iho la ka nohana 'ohana.

 

Recognize others, be recognized, help others, be helped; such is a family relationship.

 

Many native Hawaiians live with their extended family and family is the most important part of life for them. This saying teaches why they should put family first...In the Ohana or family, you know others and they know you, you help others and know you will be helped if there is anything you need.

We thank our ‘extended’ family of volunteers who do so much to make WCC a special place!  Mahalo!

 

January 2011

A’ole I ke’ehi kapua’I ike one o Hauiki.

Has not set foot on the sands of Hauiki.

 

One does not know much about a place until one has been there.

(We invite you to visit WCC to see for yourself the good that is happening!  Share the Center with your friends, family and neighbors and let them experience for themselves)

OLELO Hawaii 2010

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASES December 2010

 

 

Ka ha ‘awi a ka mea hale

Giving as a house owner does, with nothing left hidden in the corners

 

Koe koena ‘ole

maku ‘ono

Said of a very generous person who gives freely of all s/he has.

 

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE - November 2010

 

Mālama kekahi I kekahi

Take care of one another

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE October 2010

“Ua ola loko I ke aloha.”

 Love is necessary for life.

 Love is imperative to one’s mental and physical welfare.

 

OLELO NO'EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE September 2010

E aloha kekahi i kekahi
Love one another.

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE August 2010

 

I maikai ke kalo i ka oha

 

The goodness of the taro is judged by the youngest plant it produces.

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE - July 2010

Mōhala ka pua, ua wehe kaiao

One looks forward with joy to a happy event.

(We look forward to our annual gala dinner August 27, 2010)

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE - June 2010

 

‘O ka makua ke ko‘o o ka hale.

The parent is the support that holds the household together

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE May 2010

He lawai'a no ke kai papa'u, he pokole ke aho; he lawai'a no ke kai hohonu he loa ke aho.

A fisherman of shallow seas uses only a short line; a fisherman of the deep sea uses a long line.

 

You will reach only as far as you aim and prepare yourself to reach.

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE for April 2010

‘A’Ole E ‘Olelo mai Ana Ke Ahi Ua Ana Ia.

 

Translation:

Fire will never say that it has had enough.

“The Fire of Love will burn as long as it has something to feed upon.”

 

 

OLELO NO’EAU HAWAIIAN PHRASE for March 2010

 

Ho‘okahi leo ua lawa.


One voice is enough.


One reminder is all that is necessary.

 

HAWAIIAN PHRASE FOR February 2010

                                                                            'O ka makapō wale nō ka mea e hāpapa i ka pōuli

 

 Only the blind gropes in the dark

 

If you have no direction in life,  you will

 get no where

 

HAWAIIAN PHRASE FOR January 2010

 

Eia ka ho’opōpōmaika’i no kēia wā a no ka makahiki hou.  Aīa mau ‘oukou ma ko mākou leo pule.

 

Wishing you the best for the holiday season and the coming year.  You are always in our prayers.

 

OLELO HAWAI’I - December 2009

Common Hawaiian Phrases

Ka ipu o ka ike.
(The gourd of wisdom.)
*

 Check out our Ipu Umeke class scheduled Dec. 4 to learn more and make your own.

 

OLELO HAWAI’I - November 2009

Common Hawaiian Phrases

 

Forgive me, I’m sorry

E kala mai `oe ia`u.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hau`oli Lâ o`omaika`i!

 

Miss you! Ha`o iâ `oe

 

OLELO NO’EAU - October 2009

A'ohe hana nui ka alu'ia.

 

No task is too big when done together.

Explanation: United we stand, divided we fall.

     

OLELO NO’EAU September 2009

 

AIA NO I KA MEA E MELE ANA

 

Let the singer select the song

 

YOU are in control of your life.  Be open to advice and trust in yourself to decide.

 

 

July 2009 ~ OLELO NO E’AU

                                                                                          

He lawai'a no ke kai papa'u, he pokole ke aho; he lawai'a no ke kai hohonu he loa ke aho.

 

Translation: A fisherman of shallow seas uses only a short line; a fisherman of the deep sea uses a long line.

 

Explanation: You will reach only as far as you aim and prepare yourself to reach.

   May 2009 Hawaiian Olelo No'eau       

Kau ka ‘ōnohi ali’i I luna.

 

The royal eyes rest above. 

 

A rainbow – a sign that the gods are watching the chiefs is now visible.

April Hawaiian Phrase

         ‘'Ike au 'oukou i ka la apopo”

 I'll see you all tomorrow!

 

      

 March 2009 OLELO NO’EAU

 

 

Ike aku, ‘ike mai, kokua aku, kokua mai; pela iho la ka nohona ‘ohana.

 

Recognized and be recognized, help and be helped, such is family life.

 

Family life requires an exchange of mutual help and recognition.                  

      February 2009 Olelo No'eau  

                Mōhala ka pua, ua wehe kaiao

 

The blossoms are opening, for dawn is breaking.

 

One looks forward with joy to a happy event and new year!

JANUARY 2009 OLELO NO’EAU

E lei kau, e lei ho`oilo i ke aloha.

Love is worn like a wreath through the summers & the winters.

December 2008 

E ’ike I ke au nui me ke au iki

Be a person well-versed      

                      

NOVEMBER 2008 OLELO NO’EAU

  He lei poina ‘ole ke keiki

 A lei never forgotten is the beloved child             

 

       October 2008 Olelo No'eau 

                       Kuhi no ka lima, hele no ka maka.

Where the hands move,
there let the eyes follow.

A rule in hula.

                 

August 2008 - Olelo No’eau 322

E KOLO ANA NO KE ĒWE I KE ĒWE

The roolet will creep toward the roolets.

    Of the same origin, kinfolk will seek and love one another.                          

 

       July 2008 Hawaiian Proverbs & Words of Wisdom

                            HE POHŌ, O KE AKAMAI NO KE HANA A NUI.

               Problems happen.  Use wisdom and skill to deal with them.

You cannot control events but you can choose your responses.  Do the best you can at the time with knowledge you have.  Tomorrow is another day to travel, learn, and grow

From the “Little Book of Aloha”, Renata Provenzano.      

 June 2008

Ke waiwai nui ka lokahi

         Unity is a precious possession.          

  April 2008 

              Hawaiian Proverbs & Wisdom           

           He ‘olina leo ka ke aloha” 

                A joyousness is in the voice of love.

                 Love speaks in a gentle and joyous  voice, not in harshness or gruffness.            

March 2008

"Kulia i ka nu'u”

                Translation: Strive for the summit. 

Explanation: Strive for the very top of the mountain, strive for excellence. This was the motto of Hawaii's Queen Kapi'olani who did so much for her people.

 December 2007

E noho iho I ke opu weuweu, mai ho’oki ’eki ’e.

 Remain among the clumps of grass and do not elevate yourself.

Don’t show off, don’t get bigheaded

 

November 2007

PO’OKELA (Excellence)

Ahuwale ka po’okela I kāu hana iā ha’i.

 It is through the way you serve others that your greatness will be felt.

 

October 2007

‘I le’a ka hula I ka ho’opa’a

The hula is pleasing because of the drummer.

This proverb refers to the importance of small details that can make something become

great and pleasing.

 

September 2007 

Hawaiian Proverbs & Wisdom

Pupukahi i holomua.

Translation: Unite to move forward.

 By working together we make progress. This saying would be especially applicable to the Hawaiians on their canoes where each paddler would have to pull the paddles together on command in order to make the canoe move forward quickly forward.

 

July 2007

O ka makapo wale no ka mea hapapa i ka pouli.

Translation: Only the blind gropes in the darkness.

Explanation: If you have no direction in life, you'll get nowhere or another way to put it is, "If you're going nowhere, you're guaranteed to get there."

 

June 2007 

Hele me kahau ‘oli

 Go with Joy

 Malama Kekahi I kekahi

Take care of each other

 

May 2007 

    Hawaiian Proverbs & Wisdom

From the Little Book of Aloha

A’OHE LOKOMAIKA’I I NELE I KE PĀN’I

No kind deed has ever lacked its reward.

 An opportunity to help another is a gift.  To LIVE WITH ALOHA is to have a giving nature.  Give for the pleasure of giving, do not expect something in return.

 

April 2007 

UA OLA LOKO I KE ALOHA

Love gives life within

Love is imperative to one’s mental, physical, emotional and spiritual welfare.  A KIND WORD can melt the hardest heart.  Look at a situation with love.  It changes everything.

March 2007 - 

Hawaiian Proverbs & Wisdom, From the Little Book of Aloha

HE KĒHAU HO’OMA’EMA’E KA ALOHA

Love is like a cleansing dew

The cleansing power of Aloha can soothe and heal.  Love  removes hurt.  Love conquers all.

February 2007 - Na 'Olelo Pokole

Have a nice day!  I la maika'i nou 

January 2007

OIAI E NĀNĀ MAI ANA NO NA MAKA”

While the eyes still look around

In honor of our kupuna (elders)

While a person is living, treat them kindly and learn what you can from them.

 

December 2006 ~ Hawaiian Phrase of the Month

IKE ‘IA NO KA LOEA I KE KUAHU

An expert is recognized by the altar he builds.

All life is learning.  Wisdom comes with experience and time. 

Ask your elders and those who have walked before you to provide advice.  They’ve already lived.

 

October 2006 Hawaiian Phrase of the Month

Uwe ka lani, ola ka honua. 

      When the heavens weep, the earth lives.

 When it rains the earth revives.

 

September 2006 Hawaiian Phrase of the Month

From The Little Book of Aloha

  NAU KE KU’I, LOHI KA LIMA

When one grinds the teeth, the hand slows.

Forgive and get on with life.  Forgiveness is a great power that brings freedom to all sides.

Anger is fear of letting go.  Let go of the past and move on.

 

 I MOHALA NO KA LEHUA

I KE KE’EKE’EHI ‘IA E KA UA.

The lehua blossom unfolds when the rain treads on it.

Offer encouragement to help a child grow. 

People need nurturing as flowers need water. 

People respond better to gentle words than scolding.   

- From the Little Book of Aloha

 

E kaupe aku no i ka hoe ako mae

Put forward the paddle and draw it forward

This olelo noeau urges us to go on with the task that is started and finish it.

Together with your help, WCC will continue to fulfill its mission and better the conditions for our members as we move forward.

 

HAHAI NO KA UA I KA ULULĀ’AU

The rain follows after the forest.

 

HEN'ELELE KA MOE NA KE KANAKA

A dream is a bearer of messages to man. 

 

‘IKE AKU, ‘IKE MAI, KŌKUA MAI;                               

PELA IHO LA KA NOHONA ‘OHANA

Recognize others, be recognized, help others, be helped; such is a family relationship.

 

E Lauhoe mai nā wa’a

Everybody paddle the canoes together

I ke kā, I ka hoe, i ke kā

Bail and paddle, paddle and bail

Pae aku I ka ‘āina.

And the shore (end) is reached.

 

                    HO’OMOE WAI KĀHI KE KĀO’O

Let’s all travel together like water flowing in one direction.

    Live in harmony with other people and the world around you.

 

 I ulu no ka lala i ke kumu.

The reach of a tree's branches depends on its trunk.

A family's unconditional love strengthens each one to succeed.


 

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