white kukui blossom
(WEYET koo-KOO-ee BLAH-sum)
The official flower of Molokai, representing Molokai in traditional lei making and cultural symbolism.
wana
(VAH-nah)
A spiky sea urchin, known for its long, venomous black spines that easily break off in the skin.
wakea
(vah-KEH-ah)
The Hawaiian sky father deity; god of light and the heavens, who with Papa (earth mother) created the Hawaiian islands.
waʻa
(VAH-ah)
A traditional Hawaiian canoe or outrigger canoe, often used for racing, fishing, or voyaging.
wahine
(wah-HEE-neh)
A woman, female, or wife; also used to describe the female gender in animals or plants.
uku pau
(OO-koo POW)
A flat-rate payment system where workers are paid for completing a specific job regardless of how long it takes.
ukulele
(oo-koo-LEH-leh)
A small, four-stringed Hawaiian musical instrument developed in the 1880s, based on Portuguese instruments like the machete and cavaquinho introduced by immigrants.
uku
(OO-koo)
The blue-green snapper (Aprion virescens), a popular and delicious bottom fish caught in Hawaiian waters.
uhu
(OO-hoo)
A parrotfish, a colorful reef dweller highly prized by local fishermen and often eaten raw.
ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono
(OO-ah MAU keh EH-ah oh kah EYE-nah ee kah POH-noh)
The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness; the official state motto of Hawaii, originally spoken by King Kamehameha III.
ua maopopo iāʻoe
(OO-ah mah-oh-POH-poh ee-AH-oh-eh)
Do you understand? / Is that clear to you?
tūtū
(TOO-too)
A grandmother or elderly woman; an affectionate and respectful term for a female elder.
tī
(TEE)
A culturally significant plant (Cordyline fruticosa) with long green or red leaves, widely used in Hawaii for cooking (laulau), making leis, hula skirts, and spiritual protection or good luck.
taro
(TAH-roh)
A tropical plant cultivated primarily for its edible corms, which are a traditional staple food in Hawaii used to make poi, as well as for its large, elephant ear-shaped leaves used in cooking.
pūpū
(POO-POO)
Appetizers, snacks, finger foods, or hors d'oeuvres typically served before a meal or at a party.
pukalani
(poo-kah-LAH-nee)
A break in the clouds where sunlight shines through; literally a hole in the sky.
puʻili
(poo-EE-lee)
Bamboo rattles used as percussion instruments in hula dancing, made by splitting a length of bamboo into thin strips.
pueo
(poo-EH-oh)
The Hawaiian short-eared owl, an endemic species often regarded as an 'aumakua (ancestral guardian spirit) and a sign of good fortune, guidance, or protection.
puaa
(poo-AH-ah)
A pig, swine, or pork meat, often referring to wild boars hunted in the mountains or the centerpiece of a traditional luau.
poke
(POH-keh)
A traditional Hawaiian dish of diced raw fish, typically marinated with soy sauce, sesame oil, and onions.
poi
(POY)
A traditional Hawaiian staple food made by mashing cooked taro (kalo) corms and adding water, resulting in a smooth, viscous paste.
pipikaula
(pee-pee-KOW-lah)
Hawaiian-style dried beef, similar to beef jerky but typically thicker, semi-dried, and often broiled or pan-fried before eating.
piko
(PEE-koh)
Belly button, navel, or umbilical cord; culturally, the center or connection point.