Translation Guide

Aloha ʻĀina: Taking care of the land and natural resources and in return, the land will take care of you.

ʻAuwai: A traditional Hawaiian irrigation system that diverts water from streams to provide a steady supply of cool freshwater to wetland taro and to control erosion and flooding.

Hui: Group or community gathering

Kahawai: The word kahawai means stream or river. The word kaha meaning to mark or carve and wai with water.  Kahawai reminds us how the land is carved by wai. 

Konohiki: Headman of an ahupuʻa land division, under the chief who acted as a facilitator of water usage, ensuring that the 'auwai could be expanded to allow new farmers to set up their plots, while still allowing the flow of water to irrigate the plots of others. 

Kuleana: Responsibility and privilege to care for and protect the land and community

Lo'i  kalo: Taro ponds

Loko i'a: Fish ponds

Mākāhā: Sluice gate, as of a fish pond; entrance to or egress from an enclosure.

Makawai: Small outlets for water through banks of taro patches

Mālama: To care for, to preserve, to protect

Māno: Small dam that controls water flow and diverts some of the stream into ‘auwai.

Nu'uanu Pali: nu‘u (height) anu (chilly) pali (cliffs)

Po'o wai: Water source or headwater 

Wai: Water

• > Winds and rain Hawaiian names of Oahu, Maui, and Kauai