This word is the causative prefix to verbs; as, malu, to shade, hoomalu, to cause a shade, to overshadow; pono, good, right, hoopono, to correct, to make right; akea, to be broad, hooakea, or hoakea, to cause to be broad, i. e., to extend, enlarge, &c. See Gram.§ 33 and§ 212, and the conjugations 7, 8, 11, 12, 15 and 16.
This prefix, though originally adapted to the verb, continues its influence though the verb with its causative prefix becomes a noun, adjective or adverb. Ua hele oia i ka hoike, he has gone to the exhibition; he kanaka hoopunipuni, a man causing deception, i. e., a deceitful man; olelo hooino iho la, he spoke causing reproach, i. e., he spoke reproachfully. Before words whose first letter is a vowel, the last o of the hoo frequently coalesces with the vowel of the word following, particularly before a, e and o; as, hoano for hooano; hoole for hooole, &c. (See the preceding pages from the word hoaa to hoo.) Some words have haa for their causative prefix instead of hoo; as, haaheo for hooheo (from heo, pride), to be haughty. This form seems to come from the Tahitian dialect. A few words take both forms for their causative, as hoonui and haanui, from nui, to be large. Hoawi, to give, is used for hooawi, but haawi is used oftener than either.
Strictly speaking, hoo in a Dictionary should not begin a verb, but verbs having this prefix should be set in their places, and their meanings be modified by the hoo as it occurs; as, ike, to know, &c., hoo. or ho., to cause to know, to show, to exhibit; ikeia, to be known, hoo., to be made known, to be shown; ikeike, to know clearly, hoo., to make known clearly or frequently, &c.; but a large class of words have been found beginning with the causative prefix hoo, whose roots are not known or have not come to light, or are out of use. It is true, such a root might be assumed as being in existence or having once existed, as Greek Lexicographers often assume an obsolete theme; but there would be much danger in Hawaiian of getting the wrong word: hence, we know not where to put such roots unless we retain the hoo for the beginning of the word. This occasions some repetition, but it is hoped it will not be a serious inconvenience. The following words beginning with hoo are such as were first found in that form and whose root was not known. They are now retained in that form because many are other parts of speech than verbs. Where the words beginning with hoo have been defined under their roots, the definitions here will be very short and the reader referred to the root.