‘Olelo No’eau

Hawaiian Proverbs

‘A’a i ka hula, waiho ka hilahila i ka hale.

When one wants to dance the hula, bashfulness should be left at home.

I ka ‘olelo no ke ola, i ka ‘olelo no ka make.

Life is in speech; death is in speech.

       Words can heal; words can destroy. Be careful what you say.

‘Ike ‘ia no ka loea i ke kuahu.

An expert is recognized by the altar he builds.

       It is what one does and how well he does it that shows whether he is a expert.

He kehau ho’oma’ema’e ke aloha.

Love is like cleansing dew.

       Love removes hurt.

Nana ka maka, ho’olohe ka pepeiao, pa’a ka waha.

Observe with the eyes, listen with the ears, don’t talk.

      This is how one learns best.

Maka hana i ka ‘ike

One must work to know.

Lawe i ka ma’alea a ka ‘ono’ono

Acquire skill and make it deep.

I ka wa mamua, ka wa mahope

The future is in the past.

Kūlia i ka nuʻu

Strive to reach the highest.

ʻAʻohe hana i nele ka uku

Every deed, good or bad, receives its just reward.

Piʻi mai nei i ka pali me he ʻaʻama lā

Climbs the cliff  like a black crab.

       Said of one who goes beyond his limit.

ʻO ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kūkulu

Learn all you can, then practice.

ʻIke aku, ʻike mai, kōkua aku, kōkua mai; pēlā ihola ka nohona ʻohana

Recognize others, be recognized,  help others, be helped; such is a family relationship.

        Family life requires an exchange of mutual help and recognition.

‘Ike ‘ia no ka loea i ke kuahu

An expert is recognized by the altar he builds

       It is what one does and how well he does it that shows whether he is an expert.

He ‘a’ali’i ku makani mai au; ‘a’ohe makani nana e kula’i

I am a wind resisting ‘a’ali’i, no gale can push me over.

      The ‘a’ali’i bush can stand the worst of gales, twisting, bending but seldom breaking off or falling over. In difficult times, when attacked, one stands strong.

ʻAʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi

Not all knowledge is found in one school.

ʻAʻohe nui ka hana ke alu ʻia

No task is too big when done together by all.