Posts Tagged ‘Hawaiian Thought of the Week’

In Hawaiian culture, mana is a spiritual quality that is considered to have supernatural origin, a sacred force. It is a form of a spiritual energy in addition to healing power, which can be found in places, objects as well as within people.

Figuratively speaking in English, using “kai nō” in this manner can be seen as a colloquial way of saying something like, “I thought we were supposed to work on Friday, but it was a holiday,” as compared to the more formal example, “I had no prior knowledge that there was a holiday last week.”

‘ōlelo: Language, speech, quotation, statement, utterance, quote, converse, tell

Honi ihu (the touching of nose to nose) is a traditional form of greeting one another. It is the practice of hanu, taking in the essence of another, and respectfully acknowledging the presence of his/her ancestors.

When we hear the word patience we tend to think of situations in which we are actually impatient; having to stand in long lines, waiting for someone to finish eating so we can all leave the table after dinner or literally sitting at a stop light for five minutes watching all the cars go in the opposite direction.

ʻUmia ka hanu!

Hold the breath! Be patient; persist!

Defined as character and being, ‘ano is the essence of a person. Our ‘ano is influenced by the values that have been instilled in us by our kūpuna (elders).

Māna

A chewed mass; food masticated by an elder and conveyed to the mouth of a small child.

kū: to stand, to stay, exist, anchor

The context of the word kū, as interpreted in this month’s ‘ōlelo no‘eau (kū i ka māna), implies that our existence tends to be attributed to those whom each of us was reared by.

paʻahana: hard working, industrious

If we look at this word paʻahana, it can be split into two separate words that can help us to realize the intensity of its meaning. Paʻa means to be firm, fixed, durable and complete and hana means to work, labor and do.

mālamalama: light of knowledge, clarity of thinking or explanation, enlightenment; shining, radiant, clear.

‘ike | To see, to know, knowledge, enlightenment, to recognize, to understand