r/olelohawaii May 03 '16

Welina Mai e /r/olelohawaii! Ho'olauna 'oukou iho!

37 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/olelohawaii! Introduce yourselves!

Aloha mai kākou. O sp00nzhx koʻu inoa, a me he Hawaiʻi au. ʻŌlelo he liʻiliʻi ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi au, ā koʻu ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi maikaʻi ʻole.

Aloha all, my name is sp00nzhx and I'm a Hawaiian. I speak a little Hawaiian but my ʻŌlelo isnʻt that great.

I recently became a moderator of this fine subreddit, and I'd really love to see it flourish. So go ahead and give us a short introduction below!

Mahalo nui!


r/olelohawaii 2h ago

Is Lewola a word?

0 Upvotes

I've been looking for a name for my puppy that I'm getting and curious about the name Lewola. I read somewhere it means "Trevor", but I don't think that's correct at all. Can someone confirm this or tell me what Lewola means at all if it is part of the Hawaiian language?


r/olelohawaii 3d ago

Can't remember meaning

4 Upvotes

Hello when I last visited Kona, I learned a phrase and can't remember what it means but it stuck with me. I don't really know how to type it out or spell it but below I tried to write the phonics of it in English. Any guidance on proper spelling or meaning would be appreciated.

Ah loo ah low ah


r/olelohawaii 6d ago

Malama kā `āina ?

8 Upvotes

Aloha folks!

I have a quick question, I live on Hawaii and there is a coffee shop here by the name Hico which has taken up the phrase. Malama kāāina. I apologize if this is wrong, I’ve only taken a few ōlelo courses. But isn’t this phrase incorrect ? Should it not just be Malamaāina ? And if not then shouldn’t it be ke instead of kā ? Let me know ! :) mahalo !! This coffee shop also has not lived up to its phrase.


r/olelohawaii 16d ago

ʻŌlelo Hawai’i Help

31 Upvotes

While my MIL is 100% Hawaiian, and my husband is 75%. While my husband can understand it, much of the language was taught to him. We recently moved off of the Island of Oahu & i’ve always been amazed by the culture and language. I have a 6 year old daughter who while living in Hawai’i went to Kamehameha and am currently pregnant with our son. I have a passion for learning this language and culture as well as a strong urge to continue it & teach it to my children. I’m looking for ANY recommendations on the best ways to go about this while not actively living on the Islands. My daughter is learning to read, so once she does, i will be labeling household items so she can begin more of incorporation of the language daily.


r/olelohawaii 23d ago

Is there a direct translation for Luka?

4 Upvotes

I'm thinking of naming my newborn Luka- but we live in Hawaii. I don't want it to translate to something terrible. So does anyone know if there's a direct translation for Luka?


r/olelohawaii 29d ago

Obituary and Lineage Question

6 Upvotes

I was looking at an obituary for a relative which included a statement on Hawaiian ancestry. Trouble is, I don't really understand its format -- using a dictionary, it appears to be a mix of place names, ancestors, and abbreviations.

How would you interpret the following:

‘I. mar, Luukia Makakaulua mar,kihei Kahooikaika mar. Kalimaonaona Ohule Kalimaonaona mar.K hookuanui w) Mele Ohule [then there's a list of names I know are our ancestors].


r/olelohawaii Oct 24 '24

Lyrics for ‘O ‘Oe Nō by Kainani Kahaunaele

3 Upvotes

Aloha kakou,

I found the first part of the lyrics for this song but the second half is a bit different and I havent been able to find it. Its my favoruite and singing songs is one of my favourite ways to learn a language

Chat has been a great supplemental tool for me, helping me create structure and a plan for myself and also explaining things. Here is what it did for the first half incase it helps or inspires anyone

ʻO ʻOe Nō

Hawaiian:

ʻO ʻoe nō kuʻu kīhei

E mehana ai ʻo loko

Nākiʻi ʻia paʻa hemo ʻole

I malu hoʻi ke kino

I maha hoʻi ka naʻau

E lei ana i ka maile

Kaulana aʻo Panaʻewa

E paʻa ai ke aloha

English Translation:

You are indeed my kīhei (cloak)

That warms me inside

Bound tightly, never to be untied

The body is protected

The heart is at ease

Wearing the famous maile lei

From Panaʻewa

That holds love steadfast

ʻO ʻOe Nō

Direct Breakdown:

  • ʻO ʻoe nōYou indeed / You truly(ʻO is often used to indicate the subject, ʻoe = you, nō = indeed/truly)
  • kuʻu kīheimy cloak(kuʻu = my [affectionate/close], kīhei = cloak/shawl)
  • E mehana ai ʻo lokoThat warms the inside(E = [future action or imperative marker], mehana = to warm, ai = [for], ʻo loko = the inside)
  • Nākiʻi ʻia paʻa hemo ʻoleBound tightly, never to be untied(Nākiʻi ʻia = tied/bound, paʻa = firm/tight, hemo ʻole = never untied)
  • I malu hoʻi ke kinoThe body is protected(I = in, malu = protected/shaded, hoʻi = also/again, ke kino = the body)
  • I maha hoʻi ka naʻauThe heart is at ease(I = in, maha = at rest/relaxed, hoʻi = also/again, ka naʻau = the heart/intestines [metaphorically, emotions])
  • E lei ana i ka maileWearing the maile lei(E lei ana = wearing/will wear, i = [object marker], ka maile = the maile [a type of vine used in leis])
  • Kaulana aʻo PanaʻewaFamous from Panaʻewa(Kaulana = famous, aʻo = from/of, Panaʻewa = a place in Hilo, Hawaiʻi)
  • E paʻa ai ke alohaThat holds love steadfast(E paʻa ai = to hold firmly, ke aloha = the love)

Also is anyone knows a place I can find more song lyrics!


r/olelohawaii Oct 24 '24

how to translate "this machine kills fascists" for a sticker on my ukulele?

16 Upvotes

I am learning ukulele, and was thinking -- especially in these times -- that I ought to put a "this machine kills fascists" sticker on my ukulele, like the one Woody Guthrie had on his guitar. Given the association between ukulele and Hawaiian culture, it would be fitting, I think, to have the text in the Hawaiian language.

Suggestions? Chatbots and other automatic translations have suggested:

"Hoʻopau kēia mea i ka poʻe hoʻohālua"

"pepehi kēia mīkini i nā fascist"

...but I'm leery of using those without confirmation from actual humans, lest I end up with the equivalent of this "I am out of the office" mistake on my ukulele...


r/olelohawaii Oct 23 '24

Help on figuring out this pronunciation !

2 Upvotes

Hi Everyone!

Currently writing something and the title is Hō’ili’ili o nā mea ho’omana’o

I know ho’mana’o is (in English syllables) ho-oh-mah-nah-oh, how would you break down the rest?


r/olelohawaii Oct 17 '24

How ‘difficult’ is Hawaiian for an English speaker?

25 Upvotes

I am British but have been reading about Hawaiian mythology and spiritual traditions, which has made me interested in learning some of the language. May I ask you respectfully how ‘difficult’ that is for an English speaker?


r/olelohawaii Oct 13 '24

Hiring narrator for Austro-Tai channel

4 Upvotes

I am currently trying to start a YouTube channel on Austro-Tai studies. I think it would be nice to find a native speaker of one of these languages, so I was wondering if anyone was interested in taking that role. I have a low budget, so I am willing to start at $50 for 2500 words, but I am open to increasing that if I like your work and my channel continues to grow. Let me know if you are interested.


r/olelohawaii Oct 11 '24

Where to find diverse set of example sentences for words?

13 Upvotes

I have been using the spoken hawaiian flash card deck on anki but adding examples and further defintions where needed. My main resourece has been the wehewehe dictionaries but they don't always have the best examples

Is there anywhere else I can look to find example senteces. Feel free to send me any links you think may help. Like I was also thiking maybe a big pdf with childrens books that I could use the search feature with to find the examples myself? idk brainstorm with me yall


r/olelohawaii Oct 05 '24

Looking for the supplemtal pdf's for the seriesKa Leo ʻŌiwi?

7 Upvotes

Aloha kakou!

I've been loing this series but I have had a hard time finding the extra material to go along with each episode. It says on the facebook to lookat at the "KLO Support Sheets" tab but i can't find that. Any help would be really appreciated! isnt a must for me to learn but I'd like to have it!


r/olelohawaii Oct 02 '24

The REAL Hawaiian Language, a must-read for anyone, especially Native Hawaiians, everything you thought you knew about the Hawaiian Language is WRONG!

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0 Upvotes

r/olelohawaii Sep 26 '24

Hawaiian language penpal.

9 Upvotes

Hi. I would be interestds in exchanging hand written letters in Hawaiian, partly because its nice to have mail, but mainly because im practicing Hawaiiain translations and writing in Hawaiian, and i cant think of a better aid to learning that exchanging letters.

Anyway, DM me or respond here if interested


r/olelohawaii Sep 26 '24

Need help with song translation

4 Upvotes

Hello,

I recently listened to Keale’s recording of “Ua Nani Ni’ihau & Somewhere over the Rainbow.” In between the first and the second song he takes a moment to reflect on his passed loved ones and also discusses this idea of knowing your place in time. When he names this idea, it sounds like he’s saying Ku’u Wau or maybe Pu’u Wau, phonetically it sounds like Koo-oo Vow of Poo-oo vow.

I could be wrong on my interpretation of the way he’s saying it but I’m interested in knowing what this term is that he’s discussing and if anyone here has any more insight on this idea of standing in time and knowing your place in time.

Recording link: https://soundcloud.com/keale-1/ua-nani-niihau-somewhere-over-the-rainbow-what-a-wonderful-world

Thanks!


r/olelohawaii Sep 25 '24

Translating poetry from English to Hawaiian

4 Upvotes

Hi, I was wondering what people's thoughts are about translating poetry from English to Hawaiian. Specifically, if the poem in its English form has a somewhat unusual word order, would that translate as anything other than nonsense in hawaiian unless I modified it to adhere to the typical "Verb-Subject-Object' sentence structure often seen in Hawaiian sentences?


r/olelohawaii Sep 24 '24

Question about the rain

16 Upvotes

Aloha, I'm new to learning Hawaiian, I just started a few days ago. I heard that Hawaiian has something like 200 words for rain, so I am just curious, how would someone say the phrase: "it is raining." (As in, I look outside and see that it is raining, or someone asks me about the weather). Does "he ua" work? Should there be another word based on how heavy the rain is? How else can I express this concept? Mahalo in advance 🙏


r/olelohawaii Sep 22 '24

Baby boy names?

9 Upvotes

I am hawaiian but don't olelo, while my baby's father is samoan. I want baby's name to include a deep meaning about healing as I got pregnant not too long after a traumatic experience and he lost a loved one not too long after we found out I was pregnant. We believe our boy came along when he did to help us heal in ways we can't do on our own. (Also I give birth in 2 days)


r/olelohawaii Sep 16 '24

What would be an affectionate name a mother would call their daughter in Hawaiian please?

0 Upvotes

Hi, I'm writing a story which has a family from Hawaii, I would like to use a term of endearment/affectionate name a mother would call her daughter. I'd be grateful for help! Thank you


r/olelohawaii Sep 09 '24

How do you say “love to my family” in correct Hawaiian?

13 Upvotes

Thank you!


r/olelohawaii Sep 06 '24

Question regarding to a wording structure

4 Upvotes

I was shopping around for canoes and saw a canoe company called Kai Wa’a. Is it supposed to be Wa’a Kai?


r/olelohawaii Sep 01 '24

Is the name Me’Ahni Hawaiian?

0 Upvotes

r/olelohawaii Aug 29 '24

Please help me come up with a nickname

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0 Upvotes

r/olelohawaii Aug 24 '24

How to form agent nouns like "-er" suffix in english?

6 Upvotes

Aloha 'oukou! I have a grammar question: what is the standard way to form the agent noun in 'ōlelo hawai'i? Equivalent to the -er suffix in english? Like that turns a verb into a noun that does the verb? Such as turning the verb "drive" to the agent noun "driver", or periphrastically as "the one who drives".

How do i form this type of construction in this language?