Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

1. nvs., Brave, bold, fearless, valiant; bravery, courage.

• Examples:
  • Aʻo nō i ke koa, aʻo nō i ka holo (saying, Kel. 45), learn bravery, learn to run [be brave but prudent in war].
• Related:
  • hoʻokoa Caus/sim.; Brave; to cause bravery.
• References:
  • Cf. hoʻonakoa, puʻipuʻi.
  • PPN toʻa .

2. nvs., Soldier, warrior, fighter; military, hero, martial.

• Related:
  • Kānāwai koa, martial law.
  • hoʻokoa Caus/sim.; To act as a soldier; to cause to be a soldier.

3. n., The largest of native forest trees (Acacia koa 🌐), with light-gray bark, crescent-shaped leaves, and white flowers in small, round heads. A legume with fine, red wood, a valuable lumber tree, formerly used for canoes, surfboards, calabashes, now for furniture and ukuleles. A small koa was sometimes added to the hula altar to Laka, goddess of the hula, to make the dancer fearless.

• Examples:
  • E ola koa, live like a koa tree [i.e. long].
• Related:
  • The name koa may be qualified by the terms kā, kū ma kua, kū mauna.
• References:
  • Neal 408–11.
  • PPN toa .

4. (Cap.) n., Name of a wind at Mālei, Molokaʻi.

• References:
  • For. 5:103.

5. n., Land crocodile (RSV), chameleon (KJV). (Pronunciation uncertain.)

• References:
  • Oihk. 11.

• Related:
  • Kahua pūʻali koa. Military base.
  • Pūʻali koa. Army; military service.
  • Pūʻali koa kūikawā. Militia.

s., A barren, fruitless plant or tree.

2. A soldier; plural, soldiers; an army; a multitude.

3. The horned coral; the same as akoakoa; the coral rock; koa ahi and koa opelu, places among the coral rocks where the fishes ahi and opelu are found; o ke koa a lakou e lawaia ai, the coral is where they fished; he puu koa, a clump of coral rocks.

4. A mean beggar.

5. The name of a large tree growing on the mountains, good for furniture, of which canoes are made and instruments of war.

6. A mistake in speaking or acting; doing what was not designed.

7. In geography, a sound; a strait; a channel; waha koa, a strait. See KOWA.

8. A broad, prominent forehead.

1. adj., Brave; bold, as a soldier.

2. Dry; without moisture.

3. Unfruitful, as a plant or tree.

4. Unsteady; irregular in habit.

adv., Boldly; without fear; e olelo koa, speak boldly.

Avenue, Wai-kīkī, Honolulu, named for Prince David Ka-wānanakoa. (TM.) Lit., brave.

Mimosa (Acacia koa), the monarch of trees in Hawaiʻi. For its many applications, see Plants: Uses. Wood shavings from this tree are processed for obtaining dye materials. (NEAL 410.)

Koa tree (Acacia koa) the leaves of which were spread evenly over a bed of sleeping mats where a feverish patient lay. Heat from the body and the leaves made the patient sweat and fall asleep. (NEAL 408.)

Fearless.

Largest of native forest trees (Acacia koa). (NEAL 408.) See Plants: Uses.

Largest of native forest trees (Acacia koa). It has a fine red wood, once used for canoes, surfboards, and calabashes. Now it is more often used for furniture and ukuleles. (NEAL 408.)

soldier: to be brave.