THE HAMZA. During the centuries, changes occur in dialects. Hawaiian is
one of the dialects of the Polynesian language. A striking change in
Hawaiian is the dropping of the letter _k_ that once appeared in some
words. But instead of complete discard of the sound, its former
existence is revealed as a little catch in the throat, called a glottal
stop. This is represented in print by a mark (') called _hamza_. The
omission of this mark can spell a word of entirely different meaning.
Yet, without explanation, the hamza can be more bewildering than helpful
to those unfamiliar with Hawaiian. Its use in this book therefore has
been limited to this section and to the section on plants, because it is
needed if correct pronunciation is attempted. And who fails to want to
try Hawaiian on his tongue!
These brief, literal interpretations are not mentioned in the text.
Principal authorities are K. E. Emory and M. K. Pukui.
AHU--Pile, cairn, altar, shrine. Often a small or large pile of stones
erected as a trailmark or landmark. _Ahu_ were sometimes put up by
passing parties as monuments or evidence that they had been there, even
as mountain climbers do to this day. To be assured of a safe journey, an
_ahu_ of three stones was made as tribute to the god of the locality.
ALII--_Ali'i_, chief, chiefess, sovereign, ruler. One of the upper
class.
HALALII--_Hala-li'i_, fun-making, from the name of a traditional chief
of Ni'ihau.
HALEAKALA--_Hale-a-ka-la_ is usually interpreted as "house of the sun,"
a simple translation of the Hawaiian name given us for the mountain. It
assumes vague reference to the Maui legend. An old explanation converted
the translation to "house built by the sun." Rev. A. O. Forbes[27] says
that the name is a corruption of _Alehe-ka-la_, "snarer of the sun," in
reference to Maui's deeds. Still another version would have it
_Ahale-ka-la_, to be interpreted as "rays of the sun."
HALEMAUU--_Hale mau'u_ is grass hut; _hale ma'u'u_ signifies damp house.
HANA--Bay or valley, when used in a place name.
HANAKAUHI--_Hana-ka-uhi_, the mist-maker; yam valley.
HAOLE--A foreigner, one of foreign extraction; today, usually in
reference to a Caucasian; adj., foreign.
HEIAU--Pre-christian place of worship, hence, usually translated temple.
This was often a stone platform or an earth terrace.
HOLUA--A course used for the ancient royal sport of sliding down steep
slopes; also the sled itself.
HONOKAHUA--_Hono-ka-hua_, joined foundation.
IAO--_'I-ao_, high; into the clouds.
KAHULUI--_Ka-hului_, a sea for drag-net fishing.
KALAHAKU--The proclamation of the Lord.
KALAPAWILI--_Ka-lapa-wili_, winding or twisting ridge.
KALUAAWA--_Ka-lua-'awa_, the _'awa_ pit. _'Awa_ or _kawa_ is the
well-known traditional drink of Polynesia made from _Piper methysticum_.
KALUAIKI--_Ka-lua-iki_, small pit or crater.
KALUANUI--_Ka-lua-nui_, large pit or crater.
KALUA O KA OO--_Ka lua o ka 'o'o_, the pit of the _'o'o_. The _'o'o_,
now extinct, was an endemic, black, nectar-sipping bird. It had tufts of
yellow feathers under each wing and at the base of the tail, which were
used in featherwork.
KALUA O UMI--Umi's Cave.
KAMOALII--_Ka moa li'i_, the little chicken.
KA MOA O PELE--Pele's chickens or chicken coop.
KANAKA--(_Haw. pl. kanaka_; _Eng. pl. kanakas_) human being, person,
man.
KAPA--Tapa, a cloth made from the bark of _mamaki_ or _wauke_; formerly,
clothes of any kind; bedclothes.
KAPALAOA--_Ka palaoa_, the _palaoa_ was a highly-prized pendant of
whale-tooth ivory, a symbol of royalty over the theft of which wars were
waged.
KAUPO--_Kau po_, to land at night. A variety of banana is given this
name, probably after the place name.
KAWILINAU--_Ka wili nau_, literally, the twist of pain. This is the
Hawaiian place name for Bottomless Pit.
KEAHUOKAHOLO--_Ke ahu o ka holo_, a heap resulting from a landslide.
KEANAE--_Ke 'anae_, the large mullet.
KEONEHEEHEE--_Ke one he'ehe'e_, the sliding sands.
KIHEI--Shoulder covering; a rectangular fine mat or tapa used as a
mantle.
KIPAHULU--Worn-out soil.
KOLEKOLE--Bright red, blood red.
KOOLAU--_Ko'olau_, windward side.
KUIKI--_Ku iki_, a moment's stop, a short halt.
KUMUILIAHI--_Kumu 'iliahi_, sandalwood trunk.
LAUULU--_Lau 'ulu_, leaf of breadfruit tree.
LELEIWI--Carved figure on the bowsprit of a canoe or ship.
LILINOI--Goddess of Haleakala.
MAKAWAO--_Maka wao_, forest region.
MAUI--Contrary to popular belief and despite the similar spelling, the
island does not bear the name of the demigod. The name of the island is
pronounced mow-ee. This almost rhymes with an enthusiastic "WOWIE!"
especially as a Virginian might pronounce it. The _au_ must be treated
in the fashion for Hawaiian dipthongs, that is, the crisp vowels are
more loosely connected than in the English, and a slight accent is
imposed on the leading one. The demigod's name has three syllables, with
accent on the second, i.e., the _u_. Thus, Ma-u'-i.
MAUNA--Mountain.
MAUNA HINA--Gray mountain.
MOI--_Mo'i_(A 19th Century word), King, queen, sovereign.
NAMANA O KE AKUA--_Na mana o ke akua_, the miraculous power, _mana_, of
Deity, gods, or spirits.
NA PIKO HANA--The hiding place for navel cords.
NIANIAU--_Ni'ani'au_, the sword fern.
OILI PUU--_'O'ili pu'u_, hill appearing, hill shot out.
PALIKU--_Pali ku_, upright cliff.
POHAKU PALAHA--Broad stone; wide stone.
PUKALANI--_Puka lani_, heavenly entrance, chief's doorway.
PUU--_Pu'u_, hill. This is contracted in some names to _pu_.
PUU HELE--_Pu'u hele_, moving hill.
PUU KAUAUA--_Pu'u ka uaua_, the stubborn hill; the tough hill.
PUU KUMU--_Pu'u kumu_, stump hill.
PUU MAILE--_Maile_ is a fragrant vine, _Alyxia oliviformis_, used and
loved like the laurel of Europe.
PUU MANEONEO--_Pu'u mane'one'o_, itching hill. _Maneoneo_ means
_barren_.
PUU NAUE--_Pu'u naue_, trembling hill; loose or insecure hill.
PUU NOLE--Grumbling hill.
WAIALE--_Wai'ale_, rippling water.
WAI ANAPANAPA--_Wai 'anapanapa_, sparkling water.
WAIHOI--_Wai ho'i_, water that returned.
WAIKAU--_Wai kau_, water on a high place.
WAIKEKEEHIA--_Keke'ehia_ means to twist and wind like a rivulet or
stream, hence, the name is interpreted as crooked waters.
WAILUKU--_Wai luku_, water of destruction.