Hoʻolauna- Native Hawaiian Introduction

Aloha (Hello),

ʻO wau ʻo Anuhea St. Laurent (I am Anuhea St. Laurent)

ʻO Oʻahu kuʻu mokupuni.  (Oʻahu is my island)

ʻO Koʻolaupoko kuʻu moku.  (Koʻolaupoko is my district)

ʻO Kāneʻohe kuʻu Ahupuaʻa. (Kāneʻohe is my ahupuaʻa)

ʻO Lanihuli kuʻu mauna.  (Lanihuli is my mountain)

ʻO Hiʻilaniwai lāua ʻo Kamoʻoaliʻi kuʻu mau kahawai. (Hiʻilaniwai and Kamoʻoaliʻi are my streams) ʻO ʻĀpuakea kuʻu ua. (ʻĀpuakea is my rain)

ʻO Ulumanō kuʻu makani.  (Ulumanō is my wind)   

He kanaka wau, ma mua o kekahi mea ʻē aʻe (I am human, before all else)

He haumāna wau, i mau loa aku (I am a student, forever)

ʻO wau o Anuhea St. Laurent a (I am Anuhea St. Laurent and)

He Kanaka Kūkākūkā Hawaiʻi au no ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi (I am a Hawaiian Therapist for Hawaiian community)  

Ka mea i ola hou e hoʻoikaika ai i kuʻu ʻike i ka ʻōiwi. (the one who restored health by strengthening my sense of self) ?

Ua hoʻomana ʻia koʻu huakaʻi (My journey has been empowering)

A ʻike wau, pono nui pū i ke kōkua  (And Iʻm aware, that very many also need/desire the similar help)

The above information is an example of a hoʻolauna, or Native Hawaiian introduction. Below is more information and a template of how to introduce yourself in a similar manner.

First, letʻs discuss the manaʻo (meaning) of the hua ʻōlelo (word) hoʻolauna...

hoʻo-

A very active former of caus/sim. derivatives; see Gram. 6.4. Hoʻo- is treated as a prefix because it occurs only before bases; unlike prefixes, however, it takes the stress of a word, as does the following base; thus hoʻo.una, to send, bears stress on the u and on the first o. Hoʻo- usually precedes stems beginning with the vowels i- and u- and all the consonants except the glottal stop. Important meanings follow:

1. Causation and transitivization, as pono, correct; hoʻoponopono, to correct.

2. Pretense, as kuli, deaf; hoʻokuli, to feign deafness.

3. Similarity, as kamaliʻi, children; hoʻoka maliʻi, childish.

4. No meaning, as kāholoholo, to hurry; hoʻokāholoholo, to hurry. The meanings of some hoʻo- derivatives are quite different from the meanings of the stems, as maikaʻi, good; hoʻomaikaʻi, to congratulate. Hoʻo- derivatives are defined under the bases. Delete hoʻo- and see the bases. (PPN faka-.)

launa

vs. Friendly, sociable; to associate with, meet with, fraternize with, visit, be sociable. Used idiomatically with ʻaʻohe, ʻaʻole, ʻole: ʻAʻohe launa ka makaʻu, terrible fear; there's no limit to the fear; lit., no meeting the fear. ʻAʻole lihi launa mai o ka pilikia, there's no end to the trouble. Cf. hoalauna. Launa ʻana, association, intercourse, connection. Launa ʻōlelo, dialogue, communication. hoʻo.launa To introduce one person to another; to be friendly. Hoʻo launa ʻana, introduction. Ke hoʻolauna aku nei au i mua o ʻoukou, I introduce myself to you.

Source: The above definitions are taken directly from wehewehe.org

Next, hereʻs a template for you complete your own personal hoʻolauna. Fill in the blanks with the specific names of the ʻāina you are from/connected to. If you donʻt know, reach out to a kūpuna, hoa, or kumu that you know. Do a google search and fact check with a reliable resource. Check-out the books “Place Names of Hawaiʻi” By Esther T. Mookini, Mary Kawena Pukui, and Samuel Hoyt Elbert or “Hānau Ka Ua” By Collette Leimomi Akana and Kiele Gonzales.

ʻO wau ʻo _________.  I am __your name__.

ʻO _________ kuʻu mokupuni.  _________ is my island.

ʻO _________ kuʻu moku.  ___________ is my district.

ʻO _________ kuʻu ahupuaʻa. _________ is my land division.

ʻO _________ kuʻu mauna/kuahiwi/puʻu. _________ is my mountain/high hill/peak.

ʻO _________ kuʻu kahawai. _________ is my stream/fresh water source.

ʻO _________ kuʻu ua. _________ is my rain.

ʻO _________ kuʻu makani. _________ is my wind.  

ʻO _________ kuʻu awaawa.  _________ is my valley. 

ʻO _________ kuʻu kai. _________ is my ocean. 

Disclaimers:  

1- I am not yet fluent in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, nor do I claim to be an expert of Hawaiian culture in any way. I am simply sharing what I know and find valuable. I am a lifelong student and constantly seeking knowledge. I am always open to further learning opportunities, corrections, and perspectives and encourage you to share them with me with kapu aloha.

2- This free resource was created by Anuhea St. Laurent, Hoa Kūkākūkā ʻŌiwi, Native Hawaiian Therapist and inspired by a video of ʻIʻini Kahakalauʻs hoʻolauna on YouTube.  

Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.