Waimakalehua
—Water drops from the lehua trees
Previous ʻōlelo
Alakaʻi
Makawalu
Ola
Kumu
Kūpono
All ʻŌlelo of the Week
“Although it is described as ‘water drops from the lehua trees,’ in my family my aunt taught me not to use the word maʻi (sick) when referring to my time-of-the-month because it is not shown as a sickness but as a blessing. We use ‘waimakalehua’ because the ‘water drops’ represent the ‘drops’ from our bodies, and the lehua trees represent the red coloring. We use waimakalehua as a better word other than maʻi.”
—Kauʻionalani Hamakua-Felix, Hawaiian 101 student, Hawaiʻi Community College
For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo Wehewehe Wikiwiki.
