Olelo Noeau, 1922.

PROVERBS.

In order for us to hold on to all of the olelo noeau and all of the ingenious deeds of the Hawaiian people, we very much want everyone to assist the Bishop Museum in their collecting and explaining of wise and witty sayings known amongst this race.

So that this endeavor will move forward, whenever an ancient olelo noeau comes to mind, or perhaps a riddle, do write it down and send it to the museum; and if not to there, send it directly to the Kuokoa with clarification of its hidden meaning or deep wit.

Here are some olelo noeau sent from the museum to this newspaper:

He ala iki ko kahuna.

Aohe pau o ka ike i kau halau.

Aohe hookahi halau i a’oia ai.

He maia ke kanaka, a ka la e hua mai ai, hua.

O-u i ka maka o ka wauke o i opiopio.

Aohe ipukai pau i ka iole.

Aohe malama pau i ka iole.

Aole e nalo na iwi o ke alii kolohe. E nalo na iwi o ke alii maikai. Oluna, olalo, okai, ouka, o ka hao pae, ko ke alii.

Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.

E hele ka elemakule, ka luahine, ame ke keiki a moe i ke ala.

Ola na iwi o kaua.

Hiamoe loa ke kane, nana wale ka wahine.

Mai noho a hele kikaha aku.

Ua hala i Kauai, i Kalalau.

Aohe pilo uku.

I ke alo iho la no ka ulu a o ka hala no ia.

He ohu ke aloha, aohe kuahiwi kau ole.

Ono kahi ao luau me ke aloha pu kekahi.

Pa mai, pa mai ka makani o Hilo: waiho ka ipu iki, homai ka ipu nui.

Ka i ke pohuehue, ha’i ka nalu.

Monia, monia, alealea i ke kumu pihapiha: Lawea mai!

O kau ola ia, e Ku ame Hina; O ko’u ola ho’i ia. I ka olua pulapula i keia ao. Amana, ua noa.

Pua ka neneleau momona ka wana.

Pala ka hala, momona ka uhu.

[And presumably from the responses came the publication we all know today as “‘Ōlelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings”. Some of the examples above are included with different phrasing, while others appear not to have been included. If you don't have a copy of this publication, it is a must have!]

(Kuokoa, 9/14/1922, p. 5)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXI, Helu 37, Aoao 5. Sepatemaba 14, 1922.