Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

the third letter of the Hawaiian alphabet. Its sound is that of ee in English, or that of the French i. I, when following active verbs or verbs of motion it stands before the objective case and points it out as the object of the verb. Before pronouns it becomes ia; it has no influence distinct from the verb. I, prep. it has a variety of significations ana is used for a variety of purposes; to, towards, in, at, unto, by, for, in respect of, above, more than, on account of. I, adv. when, while. I, conj. if, that, a contraction perhaps of ina. I, sign of the imperfect tense of verbs, also the sign of imperative passive in certain cases, as; i kukui, i wai, &C. I, v. to speak, to call, to name, to call for one, to invite as a guest, i aku la ia he said, i mai la he spake. I, contracted for ai; as malaila kahi i waihoia’i ka waiwai.

1. nvi., Back, rear, burden, windward; to carry on the back, as a child.

• Examples:
  • Ma ke kua, behind.
  • Pili ke kua me ke alo, the back touches the front [of a thin person].
  • He kua a kānāwai, a back [guarded by] law [certain chiefs' backs were taboo and such chiefs might not be approached front behind].
  • Kaʻū nui kua makani, great Kaʻū with windy back.
  • I kua naʻu, a burden for me [as a request a dying person, asking for last instructions].
• Related:
  • Kua refers to a husband: cf. pilikua
  • Kahea kua, to call from behind one's back.
  • Huli kua, to turn the back on, as to insult; back wall of a house.
  • hoʻokua Caus/sim.; To persevere in work even when interest and pleasure have gone from it; burdensome.
    • He hana hoʻokua nui, it's a very burdensome job.
• References:
  • See ʻōpeʻa kua, paoa #2, and saying, pali.
  • PPN tuʻa.

2. nvt., To hew, chop, chip, hack, dub, strike, cut out; to fell, strike down, as an image (Oihk. 26:30); anvil, as of a blacksmith or for beating tapa; house used for beating tapa.

• References:
  • See ex. ʻauhau #3.

3. n., Beam, rafter.

4. n., Yoke of a dress; back of a garment; ox yoke.

5. n., Poles used in quilt making; the three unsewed quilt layers are placed on one another with the kua, poles, rolled into each end; the entirety is set over wooden horses and is stretched taut, so that the sewer may sew the layers together.

6. Variant of akua, god, image, especially after -a (cf. hoa kua).

• References:
  • Cf. also Kealakekua (place name), the pathway [of] the images.

7. n., Midrib, as of pandanus leaf.

8. n., Third brew from kava.

• References:
  • Cf. mahū, hope.

9. n., Sewer.

• Source:
  • English.
• Related:
  • Also: sua.