Ancient Hawaii Proverbs

From Hawaii public schools, here are some Hawaiian proverbs which have been preserved and handed down from generation to generation through Hawaii's oral tradition. The sayings were gathered by Mary Kawena Pukui and can be found in 'Olelo No'eau , Bishop Museum Press.

E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.
Translation: Try it to end the panic.

Explanation: Often we stress out just worrying about doing a difficult job. This proverb advises as an American saying puts it, "Just do it!"

Hahai no ka ua i ka ulula'au.
Translation: The rain follows after the forest.

Explanation: Destroy the forest, the rains will cease to fall, and the land will become a desert. If only our scientists knew this when the ancient Hawaiians did.

O ka makapo wale no ka mea hapapa i ka pouli.
Translation: Only the blind gropes in the darkness.

Explanation: If you have no direction in life, you'll get nowhere or another way to put it is, "If you're going nowhere, you're guarenteed to get there."

I mohala no ka lehua i ke ke'ekehi 'ia e ka ua.
Translation: The Lehua blossom unfolds when the rains tread on it.

Explanation: People respond better to gentle words than to scoldings.

Pupukahi i holomua.
Translation: Unite to move forward.

Explanation: By working together we make progress. This saying would be especially applicable to the Hawaiians on their canoes where each paddler would have to pull the paddles together on command in order to make the canoe move forward quickly forward.

E lauhoe mai
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[Source: Going2Oahu Hawaii Travel Blog]