He Aniani — Combined Hawaiian Dictionary Mirror

updated: 5/27/2020

ʻŌlelo Noʻeau - Concordance

niu

niu
1. n. the coconut (Cocos nucifera), a common palm in tropical islands of the Pacific and warm parts of eastern Asia; coconut meat or oil. Hawaiians used all parts of the tree. (Neal 119–2l). Coconut water and coconut cream (the white liquid squeezed front ripe grated coconuts) were both called wai niu and wai o ka niu. In For. 5:596 niu ā wali was translated 'milk of the coconut'.
2. s. Name of the cocoanut tree and fruit. NOTE.—Under the kapu system, it was forbidden to females to eat cocoanuts; the punishment was death.
3. vs. spinning, whirling, dizzy.
4. v. To whirl about in any way; to whirl, as a top.
5. placename. ridge and valley, Waimea district, Kauaʻi. Land division, Kaupō, Maui. Subdivision of Honolulu, land division, valley, and intermediate school, Koko Head qd., Oʻahu. lit.: coconut.

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112	A! Loaʻa akula iā ʻoe nā niu o Kaunalewa.	Ah! Now you have the coconuts of Kaunalewa.
	[Your worldly possessions are gone. An impolite saying with a play on Kau-nā-lewa (Hang-suspended), as if to say, “Now all you have is a hanging scrotum.” Kaunalewa was a famous coconut grove on Kauaʻi.]
560	He hālau a hālau ko ka niu, hoʻokahi nō hālau o ka niuniu.	The coconut tree has many shelters to go to; but the person who merely aspires has but one.
	[Said in scom to or of a person of low rank who assumes the air of a chief. A true chief (niu) is welcome every-where he goes; a pretender is only welcome in his own circle.]
1451	Ka Maʻaʻa wehe lau niu o Lele.	The Maʻaʻa wind that lifts the coco leaves of Lele.
	[Lele is the old name for Lahaina, Maui.]
1469	Ka makani wehe lau niu o Laupāhoehoe.	The coconut-leaf-lifting wind of Laupāhoehoe.
	[Laupāhoehoe, Hawai’i.]
1475	Ka malu niu o Huʻehuʻewai.	The coconut grove of Huʻehuʻewai.
	[This grove was in Kaimū, Puna.]
1476	Ka malu niu o Pōkāʻī.	The coco-palm shade of Pōkaī.
	[Refers to Waiʻanae, on Oʻahu. At Pōkāʻī was the largest and best-known coconut grove on Oʻahu, famed in chants and songs.]
1502	Ka niu peʻahi kanaka o Kaipalaoa.	The man-beckoning coco pa1ms of Kaipalaoa.
	[The swaying palms that once grew at Kaipalaoa, Hilo, seemed to wave an invitation.]
1507	Ka nui e paʻa ai i nā niu ʻelua.	The size that enables one to carry two coconuts.
	[Said of a child of about five.]
2240	Nakeke ka ua i ka lau o ka niu.	Rain patters on the coconut leaves.
	[Said of idle talk.]
2279	Nā niu kulakulaʻi a nā aliʻi ʻai moku.	The coconut trees pushed over by the ruling chiefs.
2280	Nā niu moe o Kalapana.	The reclining coconut trees of Kalapana.
	[In ancient times it was a custom in Kalapana, Puna, to force a young coconut tree to grow in a reclining position in commemoration of a chiefly visit. The last two such trees were made to bow to Chiefess Ululani and Queen Emma. On one of Queen Emma’s visits to Puna, she was asked to participate in a commemoration. While mounted on a horse, she held a single coconut leaf growing from a tree, while the people pulled and strained until the tree was bent. Then the tree was fastened down so that it would grow in a reclining position. These trees are mentioned in chants and songs of Puna.]
2281	Nā niu ulu aoʻa o Mokuola.	The tall, slim coconut trees of Mokuola.
	[Mokuola (now called Coconut Island) in Hilo, is a place where pandanus and coconut trees were numerous.]
2317	Niu maka o nōlaʻelaʻe.	Green coconuts for a clear vision.
	[In ancient days the water of young coconuts (niu hiwa a Kāne) was used by priests in divination.]
2394	ʻO ka ʻaʻama holo pali pōhaku, e paʻa ana ia i ka ʻahele pulu niu.	The crab that runs about on a rocky cliff will surely be caught with a snare of coconut fibers.
	[He who goes where he tempts trouble is bound to suffer.]
2899	Wāhi ka niu.	Break open the coconut.
	[The breaking open of a young fresh coconut for the gods was a sign of piety in ancient times.]

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