Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

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.

ʻAu kua. Back stroke, in swimming; to swim the back stroke.

• Literally, swim (on the) back.
• References:
  • See kāʻei kua, kīloi kua.

v., To strike in a horizontal direction; hence,

1. To cut or hew down, as a tree with an axe; alaila kua laau ala o Kalanimoku, then Kalanimoku cut down sandal-wood.

2. To hew, as wood or stones. Kanl. 7:5. To cut out, as stone from a quarry; ke kua pohaku oe; to cut, as coral; hele aku la makou e kua puna.

3. To overthrow; to destroy (cut down), as an idol. Oihk. 26:30.

4. To throw or cast away; to put away; e kipaku.

1. s., The back of a person or animal in distinction from the face. Puk. 33:23. He kahi mahope o ke poo o ke kanaka, a o ka holoholona.

2. The top of a ridge or high land.

3. The hewed stick, block or wood on which kapa is beaten.

4. The anvil of a blacksmith, from its similarity to the kapa block (a modern application.) Isa. 41:7.

5. The name of one of the six houses of an ancient Hawaiian residence; he hale kua, oia kekahi. See hale.

6. The name of a species of fish.

7. The front side of a place; ma ke alo o keia aina, he kua o ka moku ia. D. Malo #3:23.

1. n., The back of the head of a person or animal in distinction from the face: He kahi mahope o ke poo o ke kanaka, a o ka holoholona.

2. n., The top of a ridge or high land. See kualapa.

3. n., The woman's house; one of the six houses of an ancient Hawaiian residence.

4. n., Same as kuapa'a.

1. n., The hewn stick, block or wood on which tapa is beaten.

2. n., The anvil of a blacksmith.

3. n., An ox yoke from its similarity to the tapa block.

1. v., To strike in a horizontal direction; hence,

2. v., To cut or hew down, as a tree with an axe: alaila kua laau ala o Kalanimoku, then Kalanimoku cut down sandal-wood.

2. v., To hew, as wood or stones; to cut out, as stone from a quarry: ke kua pohaku oe; to cut, as coral: hele aku la makou e kua puna.

3. v., To overthrow; to destroy (cut down), as an idol.