The Meaning of Aloha

5 02 2010

hula hips


‘Aloha’ was a recognition of life in another. If there was life there was mana, goodness and wisdom, and if there was goodness and wisdom there was a god-quality. One had to recognize the ‘god of life’ in another before saying ‘Aloha,’ but this was easy. Life was everywhere … Aloha had its own mana. It never left the giver but flowed freely and continuously between giver and receiver. ‘Aloha’ could not be thoughtlessly or indiscriminately spoken, for it carried its own power. No Hawaiian could greet another with ‘Aloha’ unless he felt it in his own heart. If he felt anger or hate in his heart he had to cleanse himself before he said ‘Aloha’. – Queen Lili’uokalani





Learning Hawaiian Words: Three Words Easily Confused

1 02 2010

PUA’A
Pork or pig

PAU
This is a common expression you will hear to mean ended, finished, destroyed, or done.

PUA
A flower, a blossom, sometimes confused with the word Pua’a that means pork





Art of Hawaiian Quilt Makers

17 01 2010

Ulu II by Nancy Lee Chong

Water Lily Reflections: Wai Akao Na Wai Lilia by Janice Lee Baehr

Na Lani Apo'ia Ika Lei Aloha Mauloa by Janice Lee Baehr

Nan Demmler's You Are In Our Hearts

Orchids, from the Flowers That Never Fade pattern, by Nancy Anderson

Poho poho in progress. Carolyn Fessler's work-in-progress.

Peggy Sperry designed





Mark Twain’s thoughts about the Hawaiian Islands

8 01 2010

hula more than a dance


The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.
-Mark Twain





Learning Hawaiian Words

2 01 2010

green pathway after the rains near Mahukona

ALEHELE
Trail, pathway

HUKIHUKI
Quarrel or disagreement

ALU
To cooperate or work together





Learning Hawaiian Words: Ipu

1 12 2009

IPU

A gourd, an all purpose container used for food and water, or as a hula implement.





Identifying the Fish of Hawaii: Spotted Pufferfish

27 11 2009

Spotted Pufferfish

Spotted Pufferfish





Learning Hawaiian Words: Laulau

15 11 2009

Laulau is a food wrapped in ti leaves or taro leaves usually containing pork, fish, or beef that is most often served on special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations.

yummy yummy

Early laulau contained pork and local fish rubbed with salt, wrapped in young taro leaves called lu`au. When the whaling industry brought salted butterfish and it became the “traditional” fish to use in laulau. The meat, fish and lu`au bundles were carefully wrapped in ti leaves then baked in an imu.

Hungry yet, feeling adventurous? Here are some laulau recipes.





`Uli `Uli

7 11 2009


The `uli uli are gourd rattles used as hula implements. They can be used singly or in pairs, by all genders, from the most playful `auana to the fiercest kahiko dances.

Small gourds often from the la`amea tree are hollowed out and filled with ali`i poe seeds and topped off with colorful traditional feather-work.





More photos of Hawaiian Quilts

15 10 2009


Hawaiian quilt makers have long borne special feelings towards their creations. Naming a quilt, is a nuanced affair that can incorporate strictly private symbols or meanings and bear no relationship to the visual pattern of the quilt itself.

Hawaiians were skilled in the creation of tapa, clothing or bedding made from the bark of the wauke or paper mulberry plant. The tapa technique — involving the pounding together of strips of bark to form sheets of different textures, which are then colorfully decorated by pen with various dyes — provided the foundation upon which Hawaiian quilting was eventually built.


Waterlilly design

Waterlilly design





Hawaiian Birds: Nene

10 10 2009
Photo by Alejandro Bárcenas

Photo by Alejandro Bárcenas

The Nene is the state bird of Hawaii and is also known as the Hawaiian Goose. They are 22-26″ a medium sized goose with a buffy neck with dark furrows. Heavily barred gray-brown above, lighter below (see photo).

Its strong toes are padded and have reduced webbing, an adaptation that allows it to swiftly traverse rough terrain such as lava. Black billed it breeds from November to June. Females incubate the 2-5 eggs for 29 to 32 days.

An herbivore they feed on plants native and introduced.

Nesochen sandivicensis

Nesochen sandivicensis





Hawaiian Sayings

2 10 2009
Apapane     photo by Forest and Kim Starr

'Apapane photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Ho`ola`i na manu i ke aheahe.

The birds poise quietly in the gentle breezes.





Plants Native to Hawaii: ‘Ili’ahi

25 09 2009
photo by Forest and Kim Starr

photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Freycinet sandalwood, known as ‘Ili’ahi in Hawaiian, is a native Hawaiian flowering tree in the European mistletoe family. Leaves on these small trees are leathery and grayish. The green-orange flowers are fragrant. It is found in dry forests and shrublands on all the Hawaiian Islands but was exported to China in vast quantities due to its attractive smell.





Birds of Hawaii: Ae’o

10 09 2009
Himantopus mexicanus knudseni

Himantopus mexicanus knudseni

Also knows as the Hawaiian Stilt, the Ae’o is a tall slender wading bird with pink legs and a long thin black bill. It is 16″ and its voice is a loud, sharp “keek” call given in flight and when disturbed on the ground. Also gives a soft more muted call while resting. They exhibit a strong flapping flight with its legs trailing behind. Often found in mudflats, marshy areas, and ponds. They feed on fish, crabs, aquatic insects, and worms.





Hawaiian Wisdom

2 09 2009

Ua ola loko i ke aloha.

Love gives life within





Plants Native to Hawaii: Mamaki

25 08 2009
Pipturus albidus photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Pipturus albidus photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Mamaki is the major host plant for the larvae of the Kamehameha butterfly one of the only known native butterflies. It is a large shrub or small tree found in the open forests in the nettle family. The leaves are light green above and whitish beneath. The leafstalks and veins are red and sometimes green. The flowers are clustered.

The fruits were occasionally used as medicine but the major use of the plant was in the production of kapa or bark cloth.

Fresh māmaki leaves were combined with hot stones and spring water by the Native Hawaiians to produce an herbal tea for medicinal use.





Fish of Hawaii: ‘Aweoweo

15 08 2009
Priacanthus meeki

Priacanthus meeki

More commonly referred to as Hawaiian Bigeye, this native fish is laterally compressed and averages 10-12 inches long. Found at depths of 20-100 feet most commonly in caves in the day time and feeding up in the water column at night.

It feeds on zooplankton such as larval fish, crabs, and other crustacean larvae.





Birds of Hawaii: ‘Akekeke

10 08 2009

‘Akekeke is an abundant winter visitor in Hawaii arriving in August and heading to its arctic breading grounds in April and May. A few have been known to oversummer in Hawaii.

They are 9″ with short black bills and legs that are a reddish orange. In flight you can see the bold black pattern on the wings and back.

Their call is a clear rattle or soft whistle.

‘Akekeke frequent the shoreline and mudflats in small flocks and with other shorebirds. Their flight is rapid and an entire clock may rise and turn in unison.





Motto of Hawaii

2 08 2009

Ua mau ke ea o ka `aina i ka pono.

The life of the land is preserved in righteousness

early map of the islands

early map of the islands





Plants Native to Hawaii: Koali’awa

25 07 2009

Beach Morning Glory

Beach Morning Glory


This vine, commonly known as Beach Morning Glory, has silvery green heart-shaped leaves that are four to five inches long. The tubular flowers that are up to three inches in diameter are a bluish violet in the morning and turn to a deep pink tone and close in the evening.

It is reputed to have great medicinal value and is found on the edge of sandy beaches.