Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

1. n., Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus 🌐).

• Related:
  • The young are called ʻāhua or ʻōhua; the red color was believed caused by eating lehua flowers.
  • The name may be qualified by the terms ʻau kī, kea (P. chryserydros), pāpaʻa, ukali, ukali ulua.

2. nvi., Pale red color, as of the moano fish. Figuratively, to bloom.

• Examples:
  • Moano ka lehua (For. 6:293), the lehua flowers become red.

3. n., A native variety of sugar cane, named for the fish; a red cane becoming dark-purple; pith dark-brown.

• References:
  • HP 224.

4. n., A variety of taro.

• References:
  • HP 33.

Red and black banded goatfish (Parupeneus multifas-ciatus). Found only in Hawaiʻi. See kolekolea.

A red cane that becomes dark brown on exposure. Not like the Badila canes in cast of color, erectness, or stiffness. Pith is dark brown. Named after the moano fish.