Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

n., Formerly, spouses sharing a spouse, as two husbands of a wife, or two wives of a husband; also, wives of brothers, husbands of sisters (no sexual privileges); sister-in-law (Ruta 1.15).

• Examples:
  • Kona punalua, his punalua.
  • Lili punalua, bitter jealousy of a rival.
• Related:
  • ʻŌpū punalua, evil disposition; hating, malevolent, hateful.
  • hoʻopunalua Caus/sim.; To attain or have the punalua relationship, to pretend to be a punalua.
• References:
  • PCP punalua.

1. s., The several husbands of one wife, or the several wives of one husband; he mau kane na ka wahine, he mau wahine na ke kane hookahi; one of two wives, or favorites of same chiefs. Laieik. 118.

2. A friend on equal terms with one. Rut. 1:15.

1. v., To make an equal of one; to come on terms of reciprocity with one; ua punalua ole ka pono na ka hewa.

2. To have in common several wives or husbands.

3. To be or to have one for illicit purposes; o ke kii i ka hai wahine, ua kapaia i keia manawa he moekolohe; aka, i ka wa kahiko o ka punalua.

1. n., The two husbands of one wife, or the two wives of one husband; he mau kane na ka wahine, he mau wahine na ke kane hookahi; one of two wives, or favorites of the same chief. Laieik. p.18.

2. n., The relationship between two sisters or two brothers and their respective husbands or wives.

1. v., To be interchangeable; to be on terms of reciprocity.

2. v., To be two to one, said of any two persons who are the common property of one of the other sex.

3. v., To be or to have one for illicit purposes.

To have in common several wives or husbands.

Formerly, several husbands of one wife or several wives of one husband. Now applies to wives of brothers and husbands of sisters who call each other punalua. There are no sexual implications.

To have in common several wives or husbands; one of two wives, or favorites of a chief.

triangular matings.

a friend on equal terms with one.