Hawaiian 
Words of Wisdom
Nâ `Ôlelo No`eau
[NAH OH' leh loh noh eh (y)au']

E lei kau, 
e lei ho`oilo i ke aloha.
Love is worn like a wreath through 
the summers and the winters.
Love is everlasting. 

`A`ohe lokomaika`i i nele i ke pâna`i.
No kind deed has ever lacked its reward.

Hawaiians are known for their generosity,
hospitality and warm sharing. 
This giving nature is grounded in the 
principle of reciprocity, pâna`i. 
When given, the Hawaiian will give back 
in equal measure or more, 
be it a gift or a smile.

E lei no au i kô aloha.
I will wear your love as a wreath.
I will cherish your love as a beautiful ornament.

Hawaiian Holiday
Ka Lâ Nui

May Day

"...May Day is Lei Day in Hawai`i
Garlands of flowers
ev'rywhere,
All of the colors in the rainbow
Maidens with blossoms in their hair
Flowers that mean we shoud be happy,
Throwing aside a load of care,
Oh, May Day is Lei Day in Hawai`i
Lei Day is happy day out there."
~ Red Hawke, 1928

If you learn just two words in Hawaiian, learn these. 
They are two of the most important words in the Hawaiian language,
representing paramount Hawaiian values.

 Aloha & Mahalo

The Power of Four

Four was a sacred number in the Hawai`i of Old.

4 ones = kauna
10 X kauna = ka`au = 40
10 X ka`au = lau = 400
10 X lau = mano = 4,000
10 Xmano = kini = 40,000
10 X kini = lehu = 400.000
10 X lehu = poina = 4,000,000
10 X poina = nalowale 
 E ola mau ka `ôlelo Hawai`i!

Let the Hawaiian language live on!

E lauhoe mai nâ wa`a,
Everybody paddle the canoes together;

i ke kâ, i ka hoe, i ke kâ;
bail and paddle, paddle and bail,

pae aku i ka `âina.
And the shore is reached.

Pitch in with a will, everybody, 
and the work is done quickly.

 Share, me ke Aloha (with Aloha). 
E pâna`i (Reciprocate, "Give back.") Mahalo.

 

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