ʻŌlelo Noʻeau are Hawaiian proverbs that often offer wisdom for a person to live by. The ones chosen are intended to apply particularly to your learning of the Hawaiian language in hopes to keep up your motivation.
This month's proverb is a bit longer than we're used to seeing. I'll provide a breakdown for your understanding.
- E + [verb] forms the Hawaiian Imperative (i.e. a command)
- Hoʻōki = To stop, cut, cancel
- Hoʻina = Return (Hoʻi + ʻana)
- Wale = Just, only, simply
- o = (here) Lest
- Hōʻino = To malign, insult, defame, speak badly
- ʻia = Passive Voice marker
- Mai = Directional, toward the speaker
- Kumu = Teacher
All together:
Stop the simple return lest the teacher be maligned.
Stop simply returning lest the teacher be spoken badly of.
Note:
The wale is the important word that implies the explanation in brackets. Like English, it's saying "Don't JUST go home," i.e., don't go home and do nothing else - go home with knowledge, or perhaps go home and apply your knowledge.
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