Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

1. n., A small native shrub (Vaccinium reticulatum 🌐), in the cranberry family; it has many branches with many small, rounded, toothed leaves, and bears round, red or yellow berries, which are edible raw or cooked for sauce. Formerly sacred to Pele, to whom offerings were made by throwing fruiting branches into the fiery pit at Kīlauea. Wind-dried leaves are still used for tea.

• References:
  • Neal 662–3.

2. nvi., To move rapidly this way and that or back and forth, as a stick poking an oven; to ram; ramrod.

• References:
  • See helo #1, ōnoʻunou, pae #1.

3. n., A hula dance; the dancer leans over on one side, supporting himself with one hand, and with the opposite foot and arm making a sawing motion; many mele ʻōhelo have sexual import.

• Related:
  • Also: hula helo.

4. n., General name for Vaccinium spp. 🌐, found on all islands but not common around Kīlauea Crater. Fruits are edible but smaller than ʻōhelo #1.

In this hula step the dancer leans over on one side, supporting himself with one hand, and with the opposite foot and arm making a sawing motion. (PE.)

See helo.

See helo.

Whortleberry (Vaccinium reticulatum), an endemic member of the cranberry, blueberry, and huckleberry family. Common around the volcano area on Hawaiʻi island. Edible raw and cooked. (NEAL 662.)