| 9 | A hewa no he hale kanaka, ʻaʻohe hewa o ka hale kanaka ʻole. | Fault can he found in an inhabited house and none in an uninhabited one. |
| | [Mistakes and weakness are always found in humanity.] |
| 82 | ʻAi nō i ka ʻape he maneʻo no ko ka nuku. | He who eats ʻape is bound to have his mouth itch. |
| | [He who indulges in something harmful will surely reap the result.] |
| 145 | ʻAʻohe ia e loaʻa aku, he ulua kāpapa no ka moana. | He cannot be caught for he is an ulua fish of the deep ocean. |
| | [Said in admiration of a hero or warrior who will not give up without a struggle.] |
| 189 | ʻAʻohe mea nāna e hoʻopuhili, he moho no ka lā makani. | There is no one to interfere, for he is a messenger of a windy day. |
| | [Said in admiration of a person who lets nothing stop him from carrying out the task entrusted to him.] |
| 196 | ʻAʻohe ʻoe no koʻu hālau. | You are not of my shed. |
| | [Why do you presume to know who my ancestors are?] |
| 229 | ʻAʻole make ka waʻa i ka ʻale o waho, aia no i ka ʻale o loko. | A canoe is not swamped by the billows of the ocean, but by the billows near the land. |
| | [Trouble often comes from one’s own people rather than from outsiders.] |
| 271 | E hahai ana nō ke kolekole i kahi nui a ka wahie, a e hahai ana no ke ʻino i kahi nui o ka paʻakai. | Underdone meat follows along even where wood is plentiful, and decomposition follows along even where much salt is found. |
| | [Even where good is found, evil creeps in.] |
| 363 | E nui ke aho, e kuʻu keiki, a moe i ke kai, no ke kai lā hoʻi ka ʻāina. | Take a deep breath, my son, and lay yourself in the sea, for then the land shall belong to the sea. |
| | [Uttered by the priest Kaʻopulupulu at Waiʻanae. Weary with the cruelty and injustice of Kahāhana, chief of Oʻahu, Kaʻopulupulu walked with his son to Waiʻanae, where he told his son to throw himself into the sea. The boy obeyed, and there died. Kaʻopulupulu was later slain and taken to Waikīkī where he was laid on the sacrificial altar at Helumoa.] |
| 529 | He ʻalamihi no ka lae ʻiliʻili. | A mud crab on a rocky point. |
| | [Just a noisemaker.] |
| 530 | He ʻale kua loloa no ka moana. | A long-backed wave of the ocean. |
| | [The boast of a strong man who likens his back to the waves of the sea.] |
| 537 | He aliʻi ke aloha, he ʻohu no ke kino. | Love is chiefy, an adornment for the person. |
| | [Uttered by Hiʻiaka in a chant to the sister of Lohiʻau.] |
| 539 | He aliʻi no ka malu kukui. | A chief of the kukui shade. |
| | [A chief who has something shady in his genealogy that he doesn’t care to discuss.] |
| 541 | He ʻaloʻalo kuāua no kuahiwi. | One who faced the mountain showers. |
| | [A brave person.] |
| 557 | He ʻehu wāwae no kalani. | A trace of the heavenly one’s footsteps. |
| | [The rain, the rainbow, and other signs seen when a chief is abroad are tokens of his recognition by the gods.] |
| 562 | He hale kanaka, ke ʻalalā ala no keiki, ke hae ala no ka ʻīlio. | It is an inhabited house, for the wail of children and the bark of a dog are heard. |
| | [The signs of living about a home are the voices of humanity and animals. Used in answer to someone’s apology over their children crying or dogs barking.] |
| 563 | He hale ke kino no ka manaʻo. | The body is a house for the thoughts. |
| 581 | He hoa ʻai waiū paha no Kauahoa. | Perhaps he shared the breast with Kauahoa. |
| | [Said of one who is indifferent to the problems of others. A play on uahoa (hard) in Kauahoa, a warrior of Kauaʻi.] |
| 582 | He hoa ka ua no Alakaʻi. | The rain is a companion to Alakaʻi. |
| | [Alaka’i, Kauaʻi, does not lack rain.] |
| 583 | He hoa kuilima no Lāʻauhaele. | A companion to walk hand in hand with at Lāʻauhaele. |
| | [An interesting, friendly companion. A play on haele (go together). Refers to Lāʻauhaele, Kauaʻi.] |
| 588 | He hoʻīlina ka make no ke kino. | Death is an inheritance for the hody. |
| 591 | He hoʻokahi no wai o ka like. | All dyed with the same color. |
| | [Identical.] |
| 592 | He hoʻokele waʻa no ka lā ʻino. | A canoe steersman for a stormy day. |
| | [A courageous person.] |
| 602 | He hupo no ka waʻa pae. | A stupid one belonging to the canoe landing. |
| | [Little skill is required to get a canoe out of the water at a landing. Said of one whose knowledge is very shallow and whose skill is practically nil.] |
| 603 | He iʻa ia no Kahoʻolawe, he uku. | It is the fish of Kahoʻolawe, the uku. |
| | [He shall be made to pay. A play on uku (reward or recompense).] |
| 612 | He iʻa no ka moana, he aho loa kū i ke koʻa. | A fish of the deep sea requires a long line that reaches the sea floor. |
| | [In order to obtain a good position, one must prepare.] |
| 613 | He iʻa no ka pāpaʻu, he loaʻa wale i ka hopu lima; he iʻa no ka hohonu, noho i kaʻeaʻea. | Fish of the shallows are easy to catch with the hands; but fish of the depths keep the fisherman wet with sea sprays. |
| | [Ordinary folks are easy to find but an outstanding one is not.] |
| 614 | He iʻa no ke kai kohola. | A fish of the shallow sea. |
| | [A person easy to woo.] |
| 615 | He iʻa pae wale no kaʻuwīʻuwī. | The ʻuwīʻuwī is a fish that washes ashore. |
| | [Said of a ne’er-do-well who goes from house to house and depends on others for his livelihood.] |
| 619 | He ikaika nō nā ʻehu kakahiaka no nā ʻōpio, a piʻi aʻe ka lā heha mai a holo. | The morning is full of strength for youth, but when the sun is high they become tired and run. |
| | [Said of the young who do not work as persistently as their parents — they start well but soon quit.] |
| 624 | He iki hala au no Keaʻau, ʻaʻohe pōhaku ʻalā e nahā ai. | I am a small hala fruit of Keaʻau, but there is no rock hard enough to smash me. |
| | [The boast of a Puna man — I am small, perhaps, but mighty.] |
| 627 | He iki nīoi no Pakaʻalana. | A small nīoi of Pakaʻalana. |
| | [A small but very powerful person. The nīoi, the ʻohe, and the kauila were the kinds of trees entered by the poison gods Kāneikaulanaʻula and Kahuilaokalani, and Kapo, a goddess, at Maunaloa, Molokaʻi. The trees were later cut down and made into images.] |
| 631 | He ʻimi aliʻi, he aliʻi nō ke loaʻa; he ʻimi kanaka, he kanaka no ke loaʻa. | When a chief is sought, a chief is begotten; when a commoner is sought, a commoner is begotten. |
| | [A reminder to a chief seeking a mate to consider the rank of his offspring.] |
| 649 | He kāʻeʻaʻeʻa pulu ʻole no ka heʻe nalu. | An expert on the surfboard who does not get wet. |
| | [Praise of an outstanding surfer.] |
| 668 | He kanaka no ka malu kukui. | A person from the kukui tree shade. |
| | [A person of uncertain parentage; one who has in his veins the blood of chiefs as well as commoners. Similar to Kūkae pōpolo (Excreta of the pōpolo berries [that have been eaten]).] |
| 669 | He kanaka no kaulu hānai. | A man from the top of the cliff. |
| | [Praise of a hero.] |
| 673 | He kāpili manu no ka uka o ʻŌlaʻa he pipili mamau i ka ua nui. | A birdcatching gum of the upland of ʻŌlaʻa that sticks and holds fast in the pouring rain. |
| | [Said of one who holds the interest and love of a sweetheart at all times.] |
| 682 | He Keʻei ʻoe no lalo lilo. | You are a person of Keʻei, from far below. |
| | [You are of no consequence. Two chiefesses peered into a pool together at Keʻei, in Kona, Hawaiʻi. The reflection of the one from Hanauma appeared above that of the one from Keʻei, so she made this remark.] |
| 705 | He kuapuʻu no a he kuapuʻu, like ka ʻōlelo ana. | A hunchback and a hunchback have the same things to talk ahout. |
| | [Equals speak the same language and understand each other.] |
| 708 | He kū kahi au, he wauke no Kūloli. | I stand alone, for I am a wauke plant of Kūloli. |
| | [A boast — “Like the lone wauke plant of Kūloli, I stand alone in my battles.” At Kūloli, in Kona, Hawaiʻi, grew a lone wauke plant around which none other grew.] |
| 714 | He lāʻau kū hoʻokahi, he lehua no Kaʻala. | A lone tree, a lehua of Kaʻala. |
| | [An expression of admiration for an outstanding person, unequaled in beauty, wisdom, or skill.] |
| 715 | He lāʻau maka no ka nāhelehele. | A green wood of the forest. |
| | [An inexperienced person.] |
| 717 | He lālā kamahele no ka lāʻau kū i ka pali. | A far-reaching branch of the tree standing on the cliff. |
| | [A boast of a strong person who, like the tree on the cliff, can withstand gales and pouring rain.] |
| 725 | He lawaiʻa no ke kai pāpaʻu, he pōkole ke aho; he lawaiʻa no ke kai hohonu he loa ke aho. | A fisherman of the shallow sea uses only a short line; a fisherman of the deep sea has a long line. |
| | [A person whose knowledge is shallow does not have much, but he whose knowledge is great, does.] |
| 726 | He lawaiʻa no ke kai pāpaʻu, he poʻopaʻa ka iʻa e loaʻa. | A fisherman in the shallow sea can only catch poʻopaʻa. |
| | [An untrained, unskilled person is limited in what he can do.] |
| 776 | He luʻu no ke kai paeaea, ʻaʻohe he luʻu no kai mālolo. | [He is] a diver of the sea where pole fishing is done and not a diver of the sea where fiying fishes are caught. |
| | [He does have some knowledge but it is not deep enough to show greater skill.] |
| 786 | He maka lehua no kona one hānau. | One who has the face of a warrior [loyal and honored] in his birthplace. |
| 816 | He mea mahamahana no ka lehelehe. | Something warm for the lips. |
| | [A tasty morsel for gossip.] |
| 820 | He moʻa no ka ʻai i ka pūlehu ʻia; he ahi nui aha ia e hoʻā ai? | Food can be cooked in the embers; why should a big fire be lighted? |
| | [A small love affair will do; why assume the responsibilities of a permanent mating? Said by those who prefer to love and leave.] |
| 821 | He moe kai no Kaʻaʻawa. | A sleeper in the sea of Kaʻaʻawa. |
| | [Applied to a lawbreaker who was to be put to death. When Kualiʻi was ruler of Oʻahu, he punished lawbreakers by drowning them in the sea of Kaʻaʻawa.] |
| 844 | He noio ʻaʻe ʻale no ke kai loa. | A noio that treads over the billows of the distant sea. |
| | [An expression of admiration for a person outstanding in wisdom and skill. The noio is a small tern.] |
| 845 | He noni no Kaualehu, he pūhai aʻa. | It is a noni tree of Kaualehu whose roots are in shallow ground. |
| | [Said of a person whose knowledge is shallow. The noni root from shallow ground does not make as good a dye as that from deep ground.] |
| 861 | He ʻolena wale aʻe no ka Kiʻilau; he neʻeneʻe wale aʻe no ka Kāʻiliahu. | Kiʻilau merely gazes under his brow; Kāʻiliahu simply moves up close. |
| | [Said of a lazy person who watches others work and then moves up to get a large share. A play on kiʻi-lau (fetch-much) and kaili-ahu (snatch-a-heap).] |
| 875 | He pāʻā kō kea no Kohala, e kole ai ka waha ke ʻai. | A resistant white sugar cane of Kohala that injures the mouth when eaten. |
| | [A person that one does not tamper with. This was the retort of Pupukea, a Hawaiʻi chief, when the Maui chief Makakuikalani made fun of liis small stature. Later used in praise of the warriors of Kohala, who were known for valor.] |
| 876 | He paepae wāwae koʻu ʻili no kona kapuaʻi. | My skin is like the soles of his feet. |
| | [An expression of humbleness acknowledging the superiority of another.] |
| 904 | He pohō na ka pohō, ʻo ke akamai no ke hana a nui. | Sinking is to be expected where it is naturally found, but one should use as much skill as possible [to avoid it]. |
| | [Losses come easily; it requires skill and wisdom to avoid them.] |
| 909 | He pōkiʻi no Makoa. | Makoa’s younger brother. |
| | [Said in admiration of a speedy athlete. Makoa was a speedy runner in Kamehameha’s day whose swiftness gained him fame.] |
| 922 | He pua no ka wēkiu. | A blossom on the topmost branch. |
| | [Praise of an outstanding person.] |
| 933 | He pūkoʻa kū no ka moana. | A large rock standing in the sea. |
| | [Said of a person who is unchangeable and very determined.] |
| 942 | He ua heʻe nehu no ka lawaiʻa. | It is rain that brings nehu for the fishermen. |
| | [Refers to the rain that precedes the run of nehu fish.] |
| 952 | He uku maoli ia, he iʻa no Kahoʻolawe. | He is an uku, a fish of Kahoʻolawe. |
| | [He is a rebel. Said by Keopuolani of Kekuaokalani when she suspected him of rebellion at the time of ʻai-noa (the abolishing of the kapu).] |
| 955 | He ula no ka naele, panau no ka hiʻu komo i ke ale. | That is a lobster of a sea cave, with one flip of the tail he is in the rocky cavern. |
| | [Said of an independent person who knows how to take care of himself.] |
| 962 | He unu ʻoe no ka waʻa pae. | You are a rock for beaching a canoe. |
| | [You are worth nothing but to be stepped on.] |
| 973 | He wai ʻauʻau ia no ke kanaka. | Bathing water for the man. |
| | [Said of a hero who is expert in dodging spears. Spears are like bathing water to a warrior who loves to fight.] |
| 1042 | Hoʻi no ka pono i ka makua. | Returns to the parent for benefts. |
| | [Said of a grown person who returns to his parents for support or help, thus becoming a dependent once again.] |
| 1071 | Hoʻokahi no hana a Palapala ʻo ka ʻohi i ka iʻa. | All that Palapala does is gather fish. |
| | [Although we do all the hard work, another comes along and reaps the harvest. Palapala was a noted warrior of Kāʻanapali, Maui. When the fishermen went deep-sea fishing with hook and line, he accompanied them. Whenever a fish would become unfastened and float to the surface, Palapala would take it, uttering these words.] |
| 1072 | Hoʻokahi no Hāwaʻe, lauhue Kona. | Only one Hāwaʻe, and poisonous gourds grow all over Kona. |
| | [In Kona, Hawaiʻi, a priest named Hāwaʻe lived during the reign of Ehukaipo. In every important heiau in that district, an image named for this priest was kept. Many people were sacrificed to these evil namesakes of Hāwaʻe.] |
| 1073 | Hoʻokahi no hua a ka ʻaʻo. | The ʻaʻo bird lays but a single egg. |
| | [Said of the mother of an only child.] |
| 1074 | Hoʻokahi no hulu like o ia poʻe. | Those people are all of the same feather. |
| 1076 | Hoʻokahi no lāʻau a ka uʻi. | Let the youth use but a single stroke. |
| | [Let it be once and for all. First uttered by the instructor of the chief Puapuakea, advising him to strike his enemy with a single, fatal blow.] |
| 1077 | Hoʻokahi no lāʻau lapaʻau, ʻo ka mihi. | There is one remedy — repentance. |
| | [Said of one who had offended a family ʻaumakua and suffered the penalty, or of one who was unhappy over a wrong he had done to others.] |
| 1078 | Hoʻokahi no lā o ka malihini. | A stranger only for a day. |
| | [After the first day as a guest, one must help with the work.] |
| 1079 | Hoʻokahi no leo o ke alo aliʻi. | A command is given only once in the presence of a chief. |
| | [A chief’s command is to be obeyed the first time.] |
| 1080 | Hoʻokahi no makani ʻino o ke Kalakalaʻihi Kalaloa, he hoʻonuinui ʻōlelo. | There is only one bad wind, the Kalakalaʻihi Kalaloa, which creates too much talk. |
| | [Said of nasty words that start dissension and argument. A play on kalakala (rough) and kala loa (very rough). First uttered by the lizard-goddess Kilioe, who was trying to stir Pele to wrath by her insults.] |
| 1081 | Hoʻokahi no ʻōlelo lohe a ke kuli. | The deaf hear but one kind of speech. |
| | [That is, the bad odor that results from breaking wind. The deaf, unable to hear, smell the foul odor and turn to see who the culprit is.] |
| 1082 | Hoʻokahi no ʻōpae, ʻula ka paʻakai. | One shrimp can redden the salt. |
| | [Said of a poor fare of food due to a bad crop. A single shrimp and some salt will do for the time being, as long as the shrimp flavors and colors the salt.] |
| 1158 | I hele no ka hola iʻa i ka lā. | Poison fish while it is day. |
| | [It is better to work during the day. [cf 751]] |
| 1167 | I hoʻokauhua i ke kōlea, no Kahiki ana ke keiki. | When there is a desire for plovers, the child-to-be will travel to Kahiki. |
| | [Said of a pregnant woman. If she craves plovers, her child will someday travel to foreign lands.] |
| 1226 | I lele no ka lupe i ke pola. | It is the tail that makes the kite fly. |
| | [It is the number of followers that raises the prestige of the chief.] |
| 1228 | ʻIliki ke kai i ka ʻopeʻope lā, lilo; i lilo no he hāwāwā. | The sea snatches the bundle and it is gone; it goes when one isn’t watchful. |
| | [A person who fails to watch out often loses.] |
| 1242 | I noho ʻoukou a i pae mai he waʻa o Kahiki-makolena, hopu ʻoukou a paʻa; o ke kahuna ia ʻaʻohe e ʻeha ka ʻili ʻoiai no Kahiki aku ana ka ʻāina. | If sometime in the future a canoe from Kahiki-makolena arrives, grasp and hold fast to it. There is the kahuna for you, and your skins will never more he hurt [in war],for the land will someday he owned hy Kahiki. |
| | [A prophecy uttered by Kaleikuahulu to Kaʻahumanu and her sisters as he was dying. Foreign priests (missionaries) will come. Accept their teachings.] |
| 1393 | Kā i kaʻino, no ka ʻino. | To return evil for evil. |
| 1407 | Kaino he koa no ka lā nui, he koa kā no ka lā iki. | [I thought] you were warriors worthy of a great day, but instead you are warriors of a short day. |
| | [Said of those who flee in cowardice.] |
| 1448 | Ka lonolau no i ka lonolau; ka puʻulīʻulī no i ka puʻulīʻulī. | The large gourds to the large gourds; the little gourds to the little gourds. |
| | [In battle, chiefs attack chiefs and commoners fight commoners. Also, chiefs seek the society of chiefs, commoners the society of commoners.] |
| 1487 | Ka moe no kau a Mele Wile, ala aʻe ua moʻa i ke kuke. | You sleep the sleep of Mary [wife of] Willie; when you awake, the food is cooked. |
| | [A common saying on Hawaiʻi applied to any sleepy-head. Mary, wife of William Shipman, was annoyed with a servant who constantly overslept. One morning she looked into the servant’s room and loudly uttered this condemnation. The other servants laughed, and the sleeping servant was so ashamed that she rose bright and early thereafter.] |
| 1522 | Kāpae ka ʻalaʻala he heʻe no kai uli. | [The weight causes] the head of the octopus to lean to one side; it is of the deep sea. |
| | [Said disparagingly of a prosperous or important person. Once Hiʻiaka purposely avoided a kahuna who was seeking her. When he found her he said, “Oh! The head of the octopus leans to one side! After all, you are an octopus of the deep sea, a goddess!”] |
| 1749 | Ke koaʻe iho ia, he manu lele no ka pali kahakō. | That is the tropic hird, one that flies at the sheer cliffs. |
| | [Said of a person who is hard to catch.] |
| 1768 | Ke momole nei no ka mole ʻo ʻĪ. | The ʻĪ chiefs still adhere to their taproots. |
| | [The descendants of ʻĪ hold fast.] |
| 1802 | Kinikini kauhale liʻiliʻi o lalo lilo e. “He Ahu au no Kaʻū”; “He ʻIo au no Hilo.” | A multitude are the small houses way down helow. [The inhabitants claim,] “I am an Ahu of Kaʻu’ and “I am an ʻIo of Hilo.” |
| | [This saying is used in anger or to make fun of those who are low in rank yet claim relationship with the high chiefs. A play on ahu (a heap of nothing), ʻū (a grunt of contempt) in Kaʻū, and ʻio, the mighty hawk that sits on any branch it chooses.] |
| 1825 | Kokolo no o pipipi, o kalamoe me ālealea a ke alo o Kuhaimoana. | Pipipi, kalamoe and ālealea crept to the presence of Kuhaimoana. |
| | [Kuhaimoana is an important shark god, and pipipi, kalamoe and ālealea are shellfish. Said of hangers-on who gather around an important person for favors.] |
| 1833 | Ko luna pōhaku no ke kaʻa i lalo, ʻaʻole hiki i ko lalo pōhaku ke kaʻa. | A stone that is high up can roll down, but a stone that is down cannot roll up. |
| | [When a chief is overthrown his followers move on, but the people who have lived on the land from the days of their ancestors continue to live on it.] |
| 2001 | Like no lāua me Limunui. | He is like Limunui. |
| | [Women fall in love with him as easily as gathering limu (seaweed). This was said of Kahalaiʻa, a chief who was very handsome and kind.] |
| 2154 | Me he makamaka lā ka ua no Kona, ke hele lā a kipa i Hanakahi. | The rain is like a friend from Kona — it goes and calls on Hanakahi. |
| | [These are two lines from an old chant used to express a friendly visit with one who dwells in a distant place.] |
| 2156 | Miki ka ʻīlio kahu ʻole no ka hemahema. | Stray dogs will take what one neglects to care for. |
| | [When one is careless with his possessions, they may be stolen.] |
| 2277 | Nani Lēʻahi, he maka no Kahiki. | Beautiful Lēʻahi, object of the eyes from Kahiki. |
| | [Diamond Head, always observed with interest by visitors from foreign lands.] |
| 2320 | No Hanamāʻulu ka ipu puehu. | The quickly emptied container belongs to Hanamāʻulu. |
| | [Said of the stingy people of Hanamāʻulu, Kauaʻi — no hospitality there. At one time, food containers would be hidden away and the people of Hanamāʻulu would apologize for having so little to offer their guests.] |
| 2321 | No Hilina paha, ke huikau ala ka ʻōlelo. | Perhaps he was born in Hilina — his speech is confused. |
| | [A play on hili (confusion). Hilina is the month of winds.] |
| 2326 | Noho maialile ka ua o Hilo, ʻelua wale no māua. | Keep your silence, O rain of Hilo, there are only two of us. |
| | [Uttered by Kanuha in retort when rebuked by the Reverend Titus Coan for Sabbath-breaking: “Hold your silence, for there are only two of us in authority” — meaning Kanuha and Governor Kuakini. Rev. Coan was not to give orders when either was present. Now it is used to mean, “Keep quiet. You’re not the boss around here.”] |
| 2330 | No Kaʻaluʻalu nō lā hoʻi kūpuna. | Naturally, when the ancestors hailed from Kaʻalualu. |
| | [A play on ʻalualu (baggy or loose-fitting). Said of any person whose clothes do not fit properly or whose bundles are not secure. Kaʻaluʻalu is a place in Kaʻū, Hawaiʻi.] |
| 2331 | No Kaʻaona, ke ona ia ala. | [He was born] in Kaʻaona, for he attracts. |
| | [A play on ona (to attract). Children born in the month of Kaʻaona are said to be attractive to others, even when their features are very plain.] |
| 2332 | No kahi ka pilikia, pau a pau. | When one is in trouble, all [give aid]. |
| 2333 | No kai heʻe ʻoe. | You belong to the sea where octopus is found. |
| | [You are a liar! A play on heʻe (octopus) which is part of wahaheʻe (falsehood).] |
| 2334 | No Kaipāpaʻu, paha? | From Kaipāpaʻu, perhaps? |
| | [A play on the name Kaipāpaʻu (Shallow-sea). He must be from Kaipāpaʻu, for he appears to be shallow-minded.] |
| 2335 | No Kalae nō lā hoʻi ke keiki. | The lad is from Kalae after all. |
| | [A boast: “He is a smart lad.” A play on lae (forehead). Refers to Kalae, Kaʻū, Hawaiʻi.] |
| 2336 | No ka noho ʻāina ka ʻāina. | The land belongs to the one dwelling on it. |
| | [Land was given to people by the chiefs. Should members of the family go elsewhere, the one who dwelled on the land was considered the owner. A returning family member was always welcome, but the one who tilled the soil was recognized as holding the ownership.] |
| 2337 | No ke ʻehu kakahiaka. | BeIongs to the early morning hours. |
| | [Said of one who is not well versed.] |
| 2338 | No Kūkiʻi ke kanaka. | The person hails from Kūkiʻi. |
| | [A play on kū (stand) and kiʻi (image). Said of a lazy person who is as inactive as a wooden image.] |
| 2339 | No Kula ia poʻe ke hoe hewa nei. | To Kula belong the people who are such poor paddlers. |
| | [Kula, Maui, people are ignorant. Also, never mind the talk of fools.] |
| 2340 | No Miloliʻi akula paha, ke lōliʻi ala. | Perhaps [he] is from Miloliʻi, to be so relaxed. |
| | [Said of one who takes it easy. A play on lōliʻi (carefree) in Milo-liʻi.] |
| 2343 | No nehinei aʻe nei nō; he aha ka ʻike? | [He] just arrived yesterday; what does he hnow? |
| 2344 | No Pelekunu mai paha? | From Pelekunu, perhaps? |
| | [Said of one who is not clean. A play on pelekunu (musty odor). Refers to Pelekunu, Molokaʻi.] |
| 2346 | Nui ka ʻai ma ke kuahiwi, puʻu nō ka ʻai, ʻiʻo no ka iʻa. | There is much food in the mountain; puʻu is food and ʻiʻo is meat. |
| | [This was said by the Reverend David Lyman, a missionary, in 1857 when his pupils went with him to the mountain and complained of having no food for the journey — there was an abundance of hāpuʻu and hōʻiʻo ferns in the mountains.] |
| 2383 | ʻO ia lā he koa no ke ʻano ahiahi; ʻo ia nei no ke ʻano kakahiaka. | He is a warrior of the evening hours; but this person here is of the morning hours. |
| | [That person has had his day and is no longer as active as before; but this person is strong, brave, and ready to show his prowess.] |
| 2505 | ʻO luna, ʻo lalo; ʻo uka, ʻo kai; ʻo ka palaoa pae, no ke aliʻi ia. | Above, helow; the upland, the lowland; the whale that washes ashore — all belong to the chief. |
| | [The chief owned everything in the land he ruled. Ivory obtained from the teeth of whales that washed ashore was very valuable.] |
| 2547 | ʻO Waipiʻo me Waimanu, no ʻoawa mahoe i ke alo o ka makani. | Waipiʻo and Waimanu, the twin valleys that face the wind. |
| | [These two are neighboring valleys on Hawaiʻi.] |
| 2395 | ʻO ka ʻai no ka ʻai, ʻo ka ʻiʻo kanaka ka iʻa. | Food is here to be eaten, with only human flesh for meat. |
| | [Said when there is nothing to eat with poi. There were once two boys of Kaʻū who won a riddling contest against a Kona man, the champion of the island of Hawaiʻi. In one riddle the boys claimed to be eating human flesh. The audience pondered this, since no meat was visible, and began to dispute the claim. Suddenly the boys popped wads of poi into their mouths and proceeded to lick their fingers — the “human flesh.”] |
| 2662 | Pipili no ka pīlali i ke kumu kukui. | The pīlali gum sticks to the kukui tree. |
| | [Said of one who remains close to a loved one all the time, as a child may cling to the grandparent he loves.] |
| 2666 | Poʻe no Kūkiʻi. | People of Kūkii. |
| | [A play on kū (stand) and kiʻi (image). Said of those who stand about and offer no help.] |
| 2895 | Wae ʻia aʻela ma ka liko, koe no ka lāʻele. | Only the leafbuds are selected and the coarse leaves left behind. |
| | [Only the select few were invited.] |