Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mele:
a song or chant in the Hawaiian oral tradition that records the history and genealo-
gies of the
ali'i
Menehune:
the legendary “little people” of Hawai'i. Like leprechauns, they are said to
shun humans and possess magical powers.
moa:
chicken; fowl
moana:
the ocean; the sea.
moe:
sleep
mo'olelo:
ancient tales kept alive by the oral tradition and recited only by day
nani:
beautiful
nui:
big; great; large; as in
mahalo nui
(thank you very much)
'ohana:
a family; the fundamental social division; extended family. Now often used to de-
note a social organization with grassroots overtones.
oli:
chant not done to a musical accompaniment
'ono:
delicious; delightful; the best.
'opihi:
a shellfish or limpet that clings to rocks and is gathered as one of the islands' fa-
vorite
pupu.
Custom dictates that you never remove all of the
'opihi
from a rock; some
are always left to grow for future generations.
'opu:
belly; stomach
pahoehoe:
smooth, ropy lava that looks like burnt pancake batter. It is now the correct
geological term used to describe this type of lava found anywhere in the world.
pakalolo:
“crazy smoke”; grass; smoke; dope; marijuana
pake:
a Chinese person. Can be derisive, depending on the tone in which it is used. It is a
bastardization of the Chinese word meaning “uncle.”
pali:
a cliff; precipice. Hawai'i's geology makes them quite common. The most famous
are the
pali
of O'ahu where a major battle was fought.
paniolo:
a Hawaiian cowboy. Derived from the Spanish
español.
The first cowboys
brought to Hawai'i during the early 19th century were Mexicans from California.
pau:
finished; done; completed. Often combined into
pau hana,
which means end of work
or quitting time.
pilau:
stink; bad smell; stench
pilikia:
trouble of any kind, big or small; bad times
poi:
a glutinous paste made from the pounded corm of taro, which ferments slightly and
has a light sour taste. Purplish in color, it's a staple at lu'au, where it is called “one-,
two-, or three-finger” poi, depending upon its thickness.
pono:
righteous or excellent
pua:
flower
