1. nvi., Back, rear, burden, windward; to carry on the back, as a child.
- Examples:
- Ma ke kua, behind.
- Pili ke kua me ke alo, the back touches the front [of a thin person].
- He kua a kānāwai, a back [guarded by] law [certain chiefs' backs were taboo and such chiefs might not be approached front behind].
- Kaʻū nui kua makani, great Kaʻū with windy back.
- I kua naʻu, a burden for me [as a request a dying person, asking for last instructions].
- Related:
- Kua refers to a husband: cf. pilikua
- Kahea kua, to call from behind one's back.
- Huli kua, to turn the back on, as to insult; back wall of a house.
- hoʻokua Caus/sim.; To persevere in work even when interest and pleasure have gone from it; burdensome.
- He hana hoʻokua nui, it's a very burdensome job.
- References:
2. nvt., To hew, chop, chip, hack, dub, strike, cut out; to fell, strike down, as an image (Oihk. 26:30); anvil, as of a blacksmith or for beating tapa; house used for beating tapa.
3. n., Beam, rafter.
4. n., Yoke of a dress; back of a garment; ox yoke.
5. n., Poles used in quilt making; the three unsewed quilt layers are placed on one another with the kua, poles, rolled into each end; the entirety is set over wooden horses and is stretched taut, so that the sewer may sew the layers together.
6. Variant of akua, god, image, especially after -a (cf. hoa kua).
- References:
- Cf. also Kealakekua (place name), the pathway [of] the images.
7. n., Midrib, as of pandanus leaf.
8. n., Third brew from kava.
9. n., Sewer.