ʻŌlelo Noʻeau are Hawaiian proverbs that often offer wisdom for a person to live by. The theme for this year is Aloha - the Hawaiian term for Love. These monthly posts will show you aloha in action, in the Hawaiian context.
- Aliʻi = Chief, ruler
- Laʻi = Peace, serenity, tranquility, calm
- Haku = Lord, master, creator
- Na = N-Possessive, A-class, meaning "belonging to," "for," "of"
- Aloha = Love
All together:
Peace is a chief, a lord, belonging to love.
Tranquility is a ruler, a lord by love.
Note: If the N-Possessive was used in the O-class here (No instead of Na), it would convey that the lord (haku) originates from love. This is the same reason we say No [place] mai au - I originate/belong to [place]. We don't ask Na hea mai 'oe?, that would sound funny. Because the A-class is used (Na instead of No), there's more of a sense of possession (by "love"). Like when we say Naʻu kela! ("That's mine!"). Na ke aloha, ka haku - It's love's, the lord (i.e. "The lord is love's).
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