Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

1. n., The coconut (Cocos nucifera), a common palm in tropical islands of the Pacific and warm parts of eastern Asia; coconut meat or oil. Hawaiians used all parts of the tree.

• Examples:
  • Niu moe a Kalapana, the supine coconut palm of Kala-pana. [Young trees were bent over and made to grow crookedly, in order to commemorate great events; two of such trees were at Kalapana in 1950].
  • Ē niu, ē kūlolo, O coconut, O coconut pudding [said of one who talks too much; see niu kūlolo].
• Related:
  • Coconut water and coconut cream (the white liquid squeezed front ripegrated coconuts) were both called wai niu and wai o ka niu.
  • In For. 5:596 niu ā wali was translated ‘milk of the coconut’.
• References:
  • Neal 119–2l.
  • PPN niu.

2. vs., Spinning, whirling, dizzy.

• References:
  • Cf. niniu, niua, niuniu, make ulu niu.
  • PPN liu.

s. Name of the cocoanut tree and fruit. NOTE.—Under the kapu system, it was forbidden to females to eat cocoanuts; the punishment was death.

v. To whirl about in any way; to whirl, as a top.

The coconut palm; also the nut (Cocos nucifera).

Same as oniu, to spin.

coconut (Cocos nucifera). Land section, Oahu.

Coconut. The eating of coconuts was forbidden to women under the kapu system. (A.)

The coconut, tree and palm (Cocos nucifera). Widely distributed around the world and in Hawaiʻi. It thrives in sandy soils along tropical beaches. (NEAL 119.) See Plants: Uses.

Coconut tree (Cocos nucifera). The coco palm is the best known palm in the world. It may grow to 100 feet. Flowers and fruit start in about six years; nuts ripen in nine to ten months. The palm is planted ornamentally but has many uses: coconut shells are used for buckles, buttons, and lamp stands; charcoal for gas masks and automobile fuel; the fresh white pulp for food; wood for cabinets; husks for cordage, mats, brushes, and stuffing; fresh young leaves for hats and baskets. Leaves generally are plaited into screens. (NEAL 119.)

coconut; palm and fruit.