`aina The land, earth
ali`i Ancient Hawaiian royality
haku To compose, weave or arrange, as a lei
hala hala (Pandanus odoratissimus) The pandanus tree whose leaves are plaited into mats, baskets, and hats
halau Long house for hula instruction. Often refers to a hula troupe
hale House, building or hall
hana hou Encore
haole Any foreigner; primarily of Caucasian ancestry
Hau`oli Makahiki Hou Happy New Year
heiau Ancient Hawaiian place of worship
hinahina (Heliotropium anomalum) Native heliotrope, a beach plant with narrow clustered silvery leaves and small white fragrant flowers. Official flower of Kaho`olawe
holoku A loose, seamed dress with a train and usually a yoke
ho`olaule`a Celebration, large party
hukilau A net; to fish with a net
hula `auwana Informal hula without ceremony or offering
humuhumunukunukuapua`a (Rhinecanthus aculeatus, R. rectangulus) Varieties of trigger fish characterized by a pig-like snout
`ie`ie (Freycinetia arborea) A woody climbing plant that grows in the mountains. One of five plants placed on the hula altar
`ilima(Sida fallax) A Small to large native shrubs bearing yellow, orange, greenish or dull-red flowers, some used for leis. Offical flower of O`ahu
kahili A feather standard representing royality
kahuna Priest, minister, expert in any field
kama`aina Native-born or longtime Island resident
kapa Cloth made from the bark of the wauke tree
kapu Taboo, forbidden
kauna`oa (Cuscuta sandwichiana) A native dodder belonging to the morning-glory family. It's a leafless vine with numerous slender, orange stems, which are often used for orange leis to represent Lana`i
keiki Child, offspring
ki (Cordyline terminalis) A slender-stemmed, narrow-leafed green plant used by ancient Hawaiians for food and many other purposes
kiawe (Prosopis pallida) Algaroba tree
ki`i Image, statue, idol
koa(Acacia koa) The largest of native forest trees, valued for its fine wood
kokua Help, cooperation
koloa (Anas wyvilliana) Hawaiian duck native to all Islands but now considered endagered
kukui kukui (Aleurites moluccana) candlenut tree, bearing nuts containing white oily kernels
kumu hula Teacher of Hawaiian dance
kupuna Grandparent
lau hala (Pandanaceae) Pandanus leaf, used in plaiting
lehua Flower of the ohi`a tree. The red lehua is the official flower of Hawai`i
loke lani The common small red rose which has been substituted for the pink rose as the official flower of Maui
maile (Alyxia olivaeformis) Native twining shrub with fragrant leaves
makahiki Annual celebratioin with sports and religious festivities
malama `aina To preserve and care for the land
malihini Newcomer, visitor
malo Loincloth
mana Spiritual power
mele A song, chant or poem
Menehune Legendary race of small people believed to have worked during the night building roads, fish ponds and temples
mokihana (Pelea anisata) Native tree found only on Kaua`i, bearing small, leathery, cube-shaped fruit often strung in leis. Official flower of Kaua`i
mo`o Lizard, dragon, serpent, water spirit, reptile of any kind
`ohana Family
`ohelo (Vaccinium reticulatum) A small native shrub in the cranberry family with round, red or yellow berries, eaten raw or cooked for sauce
`ohi`alehua (Metrosideros macropus) Native Hawaiian tree with dark red hardwood, found predominantly on the island of Hawai`i
olona (Touchardia latifolia) Native shrub whose bark was used in making nets and as a base for feathered capes
`ono Delicious, tasty, savory
pahu Drum
pali Cliff, precipice
paniola Cowboy
pau Finished
pa`u Skirt worn by women horseback riders
pili (Hetropogon contortus) A grass formerly used for thatching houses in old Hawai`i
puka Hole
pupu General name for marine and land shells; White pupu shells represent the island of Ni`ihau
`uli`uli A gourd rattle containing seeds and having colored feathers at the top, used for the hula
`ulu (Artocarpus altilis) Breadfruit tree
wauke (Broussonetia papyrifera) Paper mulberry tree, used to make kapa



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