kapa kulture

This blog is dedicated to Hawaiian kapa and matters related to Hawai'i nei…kuku kapa e!

Archive for the tag “hawai’i”

01 Mar 2013

Hawaiian Word of the Day: kilohana

kilohana: name of the outside, decorated sheet of tapa in the ku’inakapa, bed coverings; the four inner layers were white, contrasting with the decorated kilohana. Hence extended meanings: best, superior, excellent. He ali’i ke aloha, he kilohana e pa’a ai (saying), love is like a chief, the best prize to hold fast to. 2. Hillock, heap, lookout, top, view out, high point (kilo + -hana, nominalizer). (Probably Proto-Polynesian tirofanga; Tongan siofi, siofia and Samoan tilofia.) (Pukui & Elbert, 1971).

This kilohana of kapa moe is at the San Diego Museum of Art

This kilohana of kapa moe is at the San Diego Museum of Art

This kilohana is displayed at Queen Emma's Summer Palace, Honolulu

This kilohana is displayed at Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, Honolulu

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27 Feb 2013
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Hawaiian Word of the Day: ea

ea: 1. Sovereignty, rule, independence. La Ho’iho’i Ea, Restoration Day. Ho’iho’i i ke ea o Hawai’i, restore the sovereignty of Hawai’i. 2. Life, air, breath, respiration, vapor, gas; fumes, as of tobacco; breeze, spirit. This ea, as well as ea 1,3,4, is sometimes pronounced or sung ‘ea. eamama, eaolamama. Kaha ea, to deprive of rights of livelihood. Wai ea, aerated waters. Ho’opuka ea, exhaust fumes. Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘aina i ka pono (the motto of Hawai’i), the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. 3. To rise, go up, raise, become erect. aea, e’ea, ho’ea. Kai ea, rising sea. Ua ea kona po’o, his head was raised. 4. To smell. (Pukui & Elbert, 1971).

e ala e

e ala e

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11 Feb 2013

Hawaiian Word of the Day: kua

kua: 1. Back, rear, burden, windward; to carry on the back, as a child. 2. To hew, chop,chip, hack, dub, strike, cut out; to fell, strike down, as an image; anvil, as of a blacksmith or for beating tapa; house used for beating tapa. 3. Beam, rafter. 4. Yoke of a dress; back of a garment; ox yoke. 5. Poles used in quilt making; the three unsewn quilt layers are placed on one another with the kua, poles, rolled into each end; the entirety is set over wooden horses and is stretched taut, so that the sewer may sew the layers together. 6. Variation of akua, god, image, especially after -a. 7. Midrib, as of pandanus leaf. 8. Third brew from kava. (Pukui & Elbert, 1971).

kua

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05 Feb 2013

Mele i Ka Pi’apa O Hawai’i

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05 Feb 2013
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Ka Pi’apa Hawai’i: the Hawaiian Alphabet

The Hawaiian alphabet, ka pīʻāpā Hawaiʻi, is an alphabet used to write Hawaiian. It was adapted from the English alphabet in the early 19th century by American missionaries to print a bible in the Hawaiian language.

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