Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

1. nvi., A species of flycatcher with subspecies on Hawaiʻi (Chasiempis sandwichensis sandwichensis), Kauaʻi (C. sandwichensis sclateri), and Oʻahu (C. sandwichensis gayi).

• Related:
  • The Kauaʻi subspecies is also called ʻāpekepeke.
  • This bird was believed to be the goddess of canoe makers, hence the saying ua ʻelepaio ʻia ka waʻa, the canoe is [marked] by the ʻelepaio [an ʻelepaio bird pecking slowly on a tree trunk for insects signified that the trunk was insect-ridden and not suitable for a canoe (see kani #1); the saying may be applied to any failure].
  • The name also refers to one who craves fish but does not go fishing, as the cry of the bird was thought to suggest ʻono ka iʻa, ʻono ka iʻa, fish is delicious, fish is delicious.

2. n., A native variety of taro; the leaves are mottled with white.

• References:
  • HP 17.