October 22

ALAKAʻI

ah-lah-KAH-ee

To lead, guide, or direct; a leader or guide: alakaʻi hula, a hula leader.

October 21

MĀLAMALAMA

mah-lah-mah-LAH-mah

Light, clarity, and enlightenment — shining, radiant, clear: Ka mālamalama o ka ʻākau, the northern lights.

October 20

KAPA

KAH-pah

Tapa, the beaten bark cloth of old Hawaiʻi — and to name, call, or term; an edge, border, or brim: ʻElua kāua i ke kapa hoʻokahi, two of us in one tapa.

October 19

KŪPONO

koo-POH-noh

Upright, honest, proper, fitting — and worth, merit, excellence: Ka mea i ʻike ʻia he kūpono, as is seen fit.

October 18

ʻOIAʻIʻO

oh-ee-ah-EE-oh

Truth, fact, faithfulness — and the sincere closing of a letter: ʻO au nō me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo, yours truly.

October 17

PILIKIA

pee-lee-KEE-ah

Trouble of any kind, great or small — and the everyday answer when there is none: ʻAʻole pilikia, no problem.

October 16

KAHIKO

kah-HEE-koh

Old, ancient, of long ago — and the old people, the ancestors, whose ways still shape ours.

October 14

ʻŌPIO

oh-PEE-oh

Youth, a young person, a youngster — the generation that carries what the elders have kept alive.

October 13

HULA

HOO-lah

The Hawaiian dance, and the chant that moves it — a way of carrying story, memory, and feeling in the whole body.

October 12

HŌʻAILONA

hoh-eye-LOH-nah

Sign, symbol, emblem, omen — a mark that stands for something larger than itself.

October 11

KIAʻI

kee-AH-ee

Guard, watchman, caretaker — one who watches over a person, place, or thing; and, as a verb, to watch over and guard.

October 9

MAKAMAE

mah-kah-MAH-eh

Precious, of great value, highly prized — and, said of a person, darling.

October 8

HĀʻAWI

HAH-ah-vee

To give, grant, hand over, offer — the act that sets a gift in motion.

October 7

MAKANA

mah-KAH-nah

Gift, present, reward — and the act of giving it freely.

October 6

ʻIMI

EE-mee

To look, hunt, search, seek — the reaching that comes before every discovery.

October 5

AKAMAI

ah-kah-MAI

Smart, clever, expert — and the skill and wit that go with it.

October 4

HOALOHA

hoh-ah-LOH-hah

Friend — literally, “beloved companion.” The one who walks the road with you.

October 3

KAPU

KAH-poo

Sacred, forbidden, set apart — and the everyday “keep out” on a gate. One word for what must be protected.

October 1

HULI

HOO-lee

To turn, to change course — and also to seek, search, study. The word that turns a wave over and turns a mind toward learning.

September 30

HOʻOMANAWANUI

hoh-oh-mah-nah-wah-NOO-ee

Patience, steadfastness, fortitude — the strength to endure i ka lā a me ka ua, in the sun and the rain.

September 28

NOʻEAU

noh-eh-OW

Clever, skillful, wise, artistic — the word behind ʻōlelo noʻeau, the wise sayings of Hawaiʻi.

September 27

HAʻAHAʻA

hah-ah-HAH-ah

Humble, modest, unassuming — literally low, and one of the five values written into Hawaiʻi’s Aloha Spirit law.

September 26

HOʻOKUPU

ho-oh-KOO-poo

A tribute or ceremonial offering given with honor — from a root that means to make things grow.

September 25

MAKAHIKI

mah-kah-HEE-kee

Year, age — and the ancient autumn festival of games and ceremony, when war was kapu.

September 24

HOʻOILO

hoh-oh-EE-loh

Winter, the rainy season — the wet half of the Hawaiian year, set against kau, summer.

September 23

KAULIKE

kow-LEE-keh

Equal, fair, just, balanced — literally, to hang even.

September 22

LOKOMAIKAʻI

LO-ko-my-KAH-ee

Good will, generosity, kindness of heart — the disposition, not just the act.

September 15

KŪLIA

KOO-lee-ah

To try, to strive — and, three lines down in the same entry, outstanding, fortunate, lucky.

September 14

MĀKAUKAU

mah-KOW-kow

Ready, prepared — and in the same breath able, capable, skilled, qualified. One word for both.

September 13

HOʻOMAHA

hoh-oh-MAH-hah

To rest, to pause, to take a break; vacation, relief from a burden — and, in music, a rest.

September 12

KĀKOʻO

kah-KOH-oh

To uphold, support, favor, assist, prop up; to bind, as with a sash or belt — and, as a noun, support, aid, recommendation.

September 11

KŪPAʻA

koo-PAH-ah

Steadfast, firm, constant, immovable; loyal, faithful, determined — and, as a noun, loyalty, allegiance, firmness.

September 10

WAIWAI

WYE-wye

Goods, property, assets, value, worth, wealth, importance, benefit — and, as a describing word, useful, valuable, rich.

September 9

HANOHANO

hah-no-HAH-no

Glorious, honored, dignified, distinguished — and the honor, pomp, and glory itself.

September 7

LIMAHANA

lee-mah-HAH-nah

Labor, laborer, worker, employee — and, said of a person, industrious, busy.

September 4

PAU

POW

Finished, ended, through, done — and, in the same entry, all, entirely, completely, consumed.

September 2

HAʻAHEO

hah-ah-HEH-oh

Proud; to cherish with pride; pride — and, in the same entry, haughty, vain, to strut.

September 1

HOʻOLAULEʻA

ho-oh-lau-LEH-ah

Celebration, festival, a gathering for a large party — and, in the same entry, to reconcile and restore peace.

August 31

PUʻUHONUA

poo-oo-ho-NOO-ah

Place of refuge, sanctuary, asylum — a place of peace and safety.

August 29

KAIĀULU

kigh-AH-oo-loo

Community, neighborhood, village. Also Kaiāulu — the gentle trade-wind breeze of Waiʻanae, Oʻahu, famous in song.

August 27

NAʻAUAO

nah-OW-ah-oh

Learned, enlightened, wise; knowledge, wisdom. Literally “daylight mind.”

August 26

HAUMĀNA

how-MAH-nah

Student, pupil, apprentice, disciple — the one who is being fed.

August 25

KAHU

KAH-hoo

Honored attendant, guardian, keeper, caretaker — the one a thing or a person is entrusted to. Also: to tend the fire of an imu. The root inside kahuna.

August 24

AHONUI

ah-ho-NOO-ee

Patience — literally “great breath.” Aho, breath, + nui, great.

August 23

PŌMAIKAʻI

poh-my-KAH-ee

Good fortune, blessing, prosperity.

August 22

PUʻUWAI

poo-oo-VYE

Heart — the organ in your chest. Literally a mound of water: puʻu, a hill or lump, + wai, fresh water.

August 21

MOʻOPUNA

moh-oh-POO-nah

Grandchild; a descendant two generations later. Literally: the line springing up again.

August 20

KAMAʻĀINA

kah-mah-AH-ee-nah

Native-born; one born in a place; a host. Literally: a child of the land.

August 15

KĪPUKA

kee-POO-kah

A change of form — especially a clear place or oasis inside a lava bed where things still grow. Also a calm patch in a rough sea, a break in the clouds, an opening in the forest.

August 14

HOʻOPONOPONO

hoh-oh-poh-noh-POH-noh

To put to rights — correct, adjust, set in order; the ʻohana practice of repair.

August 13

PUMEHANA

poo-meh-HAH-nah

Warm, warm-hearted; warmth, affection — the warmth between people, not the heat of the sun.

August 11

MANAʻO

mah-NAH-ʻoh

Thought, idea, belief, opinion — and the verb for it: to think, to consider.

August 10

NANI

NAH-nee

Beauty, glory, splendor — beautiful, glorious, splendid. Also the word that turns a sentence into an exclamation: how fine! how beautiful!

August 9

ʻŌIWI

oh-EE-vee

Native, native-born — belonging to a place down to the bone; also one’s physique, one’s very self.

August 8

MĀLIE

MAH-lee-eh

Calm, quiet, serene, still — the sea gone flat, the wind gone soft, a mind at rest.

August 7

WELA

WEH-lah

Hot, burned; heat, temperature — the word for the sun at full August strength, and the season named after it.

August 6

ʻONO

OH-no

Delicious, tasty, savory; to relish, to crave — the word Hawaiʻi reaches for whenever the food is good.

August 5

ʻOLUʻOLU

oh-loo-OH-loo

Pleasant, agreeable, kind, gracious; cool and comfortable — the word behind “please.”

August 4

IKAIKA

ee-KAI-kah

Strong, powerful, sturdy; strength, energy, might, determination.

August 3

KUMU

KOO-moo

Bottom, base, foundation; the main stalk or trunk of a tree — and, in its own entry, teacher.

August 2

LAULIMA

lau-LEE-mah

Cooperation, joint action; a group of people working together — and, in the dictionary’s own list, a community food patch. Literally: many hands.

August 1

PŌHAKU

poh-HAH-koo

Rock, stone, mineral — and, in the dictionary’s own list, a fishing sinker and thunder. On the youngest island in the chain, it is the word for what the ground is still making.

July 31

EA

EH-ah

Life, breath, air, spirit — and also sovereignty, rule, independence. Today, July 31, is Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, the day named for it.

July 30

HOʻOLOHE

hoh-oh-LOH-heh

To listen; to pay attention; to heed, to obey. Built on lohe, to hear — hoʻolohe is hearing you choose to do.

July 29

LEO

LEH-oh

Voice, sound, tone — also a plea or verbal message; to speak, to make a sound. Your voice, the voice of the sea, the voice of a people.

July 28

HOLOMUA

ho-lo-MOO-ah

Progress, improvement — to move forward, to advance. Built from holo (to go) and mua (forward): in Hawaiian, progress is literally motion.

July 27

HANA

HAH-nah

Work, activity, deed — to do, to make, to create. The word for Monday morning and for everything you will put your hands to this week.

July 26

PULE

POO-leh

Prayer, blessing, church service — and the week itself: in Hawaiian, the very word for “week” is the word for prayer.

July 25

LANI

LAH-nee

Sky, the heavens — and, in the same breath, a very high chief: the word Hawaiian reaches for when something is exalted, royal, heavenly.

July 24

PAʻA

PAH-ah

Firm, solid, held fast — the everyday word for anything that holds: a shut door, a chant learned by heart, a person who stays steady.

July 21

ʻAʻALIʻI

ah-ah-LEE-ee

A tough native shrub whose red seed pods color the uplands — and, from a famous proverb, the very picture of standing firm in any wind.

July 20

KUKUI

koo-KOO-ee

The candlenut tree — burned for light in old Hawaiʻi, and ever since a symbol of learning and enlightenment.

July 19

AHUPUAʻA

ah-hoo-poo-AH-ah

A slice of land running from the mountain to the sea — everything one community needs, held together as one.

July 18

KILO

KEE-loh

To watch closely — to read the sky, the land, the sea, and let them teach you.

July 17

AʻO

AH-oh

To learn — and to teach. One word does both.

July 16

HOʻOKIPA

hoh-oh-KEE-pah

Hospitality — to welcome, host, treat a guest well

July 15

ĀNUENUE

AH-noo-eh-NOO-eh

Rainbow — the whole arch, in a language that keeps a separate word for every kind

July 13

PALI

PAH-lee

A cliff, precipice, steep slope; an obstacle or difficulty

July 12

HOʻOKELE

hoh-oh-KEH-leh

To steer, navigate, command — the helmsman and the art of finding the way

Jul 11

HUI

HOO-ee

To join, to meet — and the group that forms when people do.

July 10

HALE

HAH-leh

House, home — the shelter that holds a family.

July 9

WAʻA

VAH-ah

Canoe — the vessel that carried a people across an ocean.

July 8

PILINA

pee-LEE-nah

Relationship, connection, bond — the way things join and hold.

July 7

MELE

MEH-leh

Song, chant, poem — and the act of singing one.

July 6

HUAKAʻI

hoo-ah-KAH-ee

Trip, voyage, journey — and the procession that travels together.

July 5

MALUHIA

mah-loo-HEE-ah

Peace, tranquility, serenity — the deep quiet of feeling safe.

July 3

KŪʻOKOʻA

KOO-oh-koh-ah

Independence, liberty, freedom — to stand fully on one’s own.

July 2

KALO

KAH-loh

Taro — staple of Hawaiian life and elder sibling of the people.

July 1

HOʻOMAKA

hoh-oh-MAH-kah

To begin, to start — to set a new thing in motion.

June 30

ʻŌLELO

OH-leh-loh

Language, speech, word — and the living act of speaking. The very thing that carries a people forward, one sentence at a time.

June 29

MANA

MAH-nah

Spiritual power — the unseen force that moves through people, places, and words. Authority that is felt long before it is claimed.

June 28

MAHINA

mah-HEE-nah

The moon — and the month it measures, one full journey of light from dark to full and back again.

June 27

MOʻOLELO

mo-oh-LEH-loh

A story, history, or tradition — the “succession of talk” that carries a people’s memory forward.

June 25

ʻIKE

EE-keh

To see, to know, to understand — one word for seeing with the eyes and knowing in the mind.

June 24

UA

OO-ah

Rain — and the verb for the act of raining; the water that turns a hillside green overnight.

June 23

PUA

POO-ah

A flower — and, in the same breath, a child, a descendant; the next bud on the family line.

June 22

WAHINE

wah-HEE-neh

Woman, lady, wife — and the word inside makuahine, “mother.”

June 21

KĀNE

KAH-neh

Man, male, husband — the word inside makua kāne, “father.”

June 20

LEHUA

leh-HOO-ah

The blossom of the ʻōhiʻa tree — the flower of Hawaiʻi Island — and a word for someone beloved, an expert, a warrior.

June 19

NOA

NO-ah

Free — released, unbound, lifted out from under kapu. The everyday word for what is no longer forbidden.

June 18

LĀ

LAH

Sun — and also day, date. One small word for the light overhead and the span of hours it measures.

June 17

MAKUA

mah-KOO-ah

Parent — a mother or father; also any relative of the parents’ generation, and a full-grown, mature person.

June 16

KEIKI

KAY-kee

Child — a son or daughter, the young ones; also a descendant, and the new shoot a kalo plant sends up.

June 15

HILINAʻI

hee-lee-NAH-ee

To trust — to lean your weight on someone or something and count on it to hold.

June 14

NAʻAU

NAH-ow

The gut — and, in Hawaiian thinking, the seat of mind, heart, and feeling all at once.

June 13

MAUNA

MOW-nah

Mountain — the high inland reaches where the land climbs from the sea to the center of the island.

June 12

KŌKUA

koh-KOO-ah

Help · assistance · to help or support — the everyday island word for lending a hand, freely given and never demanded

June 11

LEI

LAY

Garland · wreath · a beloved one — flowers, leaves, or shells strung with care and given as a symbol of affection

June 10

MŌʻĪ

moh-EE

King · sovereign · monarch — the supreme ruler; the title Kamehameha carried when he brought the islands under one crown

June 9

KOA

KOH-ah

Brave · fearless · a warrior — courage of heart, and the great native tree it shares its name with

June 8

MOANA

mo-AH-nah

Ocean — the deep open sea beyond the horizon, the water that connects every island

June 7

HŌKŪ

HOH-koo

Star — the night-sky lights Hawaiians read like a map across the open ocean

June 5

HONUA

ho-NOO-ah

Earth · Land · World — the ground beneath us and the whole living planet

June 4

ULU

OO-loo

To grow · To increase · To flourish — to rise, spread, and come into fullness

June 3

HOʻOMAU

ho-oh-MOW

To continue · To perpetuate · To persevere — to carry something on so it lasts

June 2

OLA

OH-lah

Life · Health · Well-being — to live, to heal, to thrive

June 1

KUPUNA

koo-POO-nah

Grandparent · Elder · Ancestor — the source we grow from

May 31

WAI

WAI (rhymes with “high”)

Fresh water · Liquid · Life — everything that flows and feeds

May 30

KAI

KAI (rhymes with “high”)

Sea · Seawater · Tide — the near ocean, and the rhythm of its rise and fall

May 29

MAKANI

mah-KAH-nee

Wind · Breeze — the moving air that names every place it touches

May 28

LŌKAHI

LOH-kah-hee

Unity · Harmony · Agreement — the balance that holds us together

May 27

ʻĀINA

AH-ee-nah

Land · Earth · That which feeds — the place that holds you

May 26

PONO

POH-no

Righteousness · Goodness · In perfect order — the right way of things

May 25

HOʻOMANAʻO

ho-oh-MAH-nah-oh

To remember · To recall · To commemorate — to cause a thought to live again

May 24

ʻOHANA

oh-HAH-nah

Family · Kin · Belonging · Branching — the people who grow from the same root

May 23

ALOHA

ah-LO-hah

Love · Compassion · Greeting · Presence — the word that opens a relationship and keeps it open

May 22

MAHALO

mah-HAH-loh

Thanks · Gratitude · Admiration · Esteem — the word you say when you have truly received something, and want to give the giving back

May 21

KULEANA

koo-leh-AH-nah

Responsibility · Right · Privilege · The thing that is yours to carry — and yours to claim — at the same time

May 20

NALU

NAH-loo

A wave · To surf · To ponder · To meditate · The same word for water moving and mind moving

May 19

MĀLAMA

MAH-lah-mah

To care for · To tend · To preserve · To protect · To keep something so it lasts

May 18

LANAKILA

lah-nah-KEE-lah

Victorious · Triumphant · To prevail · To conquer · To be too strong for an opposing party

May 17

PIKO

PEE-koh

Bellybutton · Navel · Summit · Crown of the head · Center · End or border · Blood relative (figurative)