Nā Hua Olelo — Hawaiian words for journaling

In honor of Mahina ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi, this is a list of some useful Hawaiian words when making a nature journal page or diagram. You can find many more resources to help with your ʻōlelo learning journey here: https://kanaeokana.net/olelo#getstarted

As I still have much to learn about the Hawaiian language, please let me know if I made any mistakes or you have a better word or phrase to use for any of these concepts.

E Kākau – Write

ka hua – word

‘ōlelo – language, to speak

kākau – to write

limahiō – script handwriting

ka lepili – a label or tag

ke aka – shadow

ke ao manaʻo – thought cloud (thought bubble)

ke kaha – line

ke kaha kuhi – mark to direct attention, such as an arrow

ka hakalau – Composition/layout (to arrange a design)

(These next two are from Ola and ʻŌlelo)

hoʻomeheu: tracing over lines (for example, to help with learning how to write letters.)

hoʻomahaka: tracing pictures or around shapes.

Note: Meheu also means footprint. It’s fun to imagine putting your finger in the sand and tracing a bird footprint when you are writing a letter! Mahaka means the outline or outer limits of an object. My guess (as a language learner) is that mahaka could also be used to refer to contour drawing.

Nā Lako / supplies

Paper = ka pepa

Ruler= ka lula

Pen/pencil = ka peni

Felt pen = ka peni kuni

Colored pen/pencil = ka peni kala

Crayon = ke kala

Erase/Eraser = ka holoi, ka mea holoi

Watercolors = ka pena wai, ka waihoʻoluʻu

Paintbrush = ka hulu pena

(pena = paint)