Chapter LXIII: Appendix: Hawaiian Legends: Glossary

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The Hawaiian alphabet proper contains but twelve letters, five vowels and seven consonants, namely: A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, W. To these are sometimes added R, T and B. No appreciable distinction, however, is observed between the sounds of R and L, T and K, and B and P.

The almost invariable sound of A is as pronounced in father; of E as in they; of I as in marine; of O as in mole; of U as in mute. The only general deviation is in giving the vowels long and short sounds. W takes the sound of V in most cases.

Every word and every syllable of the language ends in a vowel, and no two consonants occur without a vowel sound between them.

The accent of nine-tenths of the words in the language is on the penultimate.

The indefinite article is he; the definite article ka or ke; the plural takes the prefix of na.

The "O" beginning the metrical lines of chants and meles is not always employed as an interjection. It is used chiefly as a prefix to personal nouns and pronouns in the nominative case.

A.

Aa, the root of any vegetation.

Ae, the affirmative; yes.

Ao, light.

Aaakoko, a vein or artery.

Auwina la, afternoon.

Akane, an intimate friend.

Aole, the negative; no.

Ai, food of any kind.

Auhau, any tax due to a chief.

Au, a current; the gale.

Auwae, the chin.

Aumoe, midnight.

Aouli, the sky.

Aumakua, the spirit of a deceased ancestor.

Ailo, chiefs permitted to eat with the king.

Ahiahi, evening.

Aha-alii, chiefs of accepted and irrevocable rank.

Aha, a sacred tabu prayer, during which any noise was death.

Ahi, fire.

Ahinahina, the color of gray.

Aka, a shadow.

Akua, a spirit or god.

Akepaa, the liver.

Akemama, the lungs.

Aku, a mythical bird, sacred to the high priesthood.

Ala, a path, road or way.

Ala-nui, a great path.

Alaula, the red path; the dawn.

Aho, a breath.

Aha-ula, a feather cape worn by chiefs.

Alae, a sacred bird.

Alii-koa, a military leader; a general.

Aloha, love; love to you; a greeting or salutation.

Alii, a chief.

Alii-nui, a great or principal chief.

Alii-niaupio, Alii-pio, Alii-naha, Alii-wohi and Lo-alii, different grades of chiefs.

Anu, a receptacle in the inner temple from which issued the oracles.

Anaana, the process of praying another to death.

Anuenue, a rainbow.

Ana, a cave or cavern.

Apapani, a little song-bird.

Awa, a plant; an intoxicating drink made of awa; a harbor.

Awakea, noon.

E.

Ea, breath; air; a fish tabu to women.

Eleele, black, or dark blue.

Eha, pain.