Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

vi. To rattle, especially of seeds in the ʻulīʻulī, gourds; to gurgle.

nvs., Any dark color, including the deep blue of the sea, the ordinary green of vegetation, and the dark of black clouds; the black-and-blue of a bruise. Some song composers avoid this word because connotations of evil or misfortune are associated with darkness and because Uli is a goddess of sorcery (see uli #2).

• Examples:
  • Uli māhole ka ʻili (song), the skin is bruised black-and-blue.
• Related:
  • Also: uliuli.
  • Kai uli, the deep blue sea.
  • Nuku uli, dark lips.
  • Nā pali uli, the green cliffs.
  • Uli ka maka, a black eye.
  • hoʻouli Caus/sim.; To darken, to make blue, green, etc.; to make the skin black and blue; to bruise.
• References:
  • PPN ʻuli.

2. (Cap.) n., Name of a goddess of sorcery, said to have come from Kahiki.

• Examples:
  • E Uli ē, ē Uli nānā pono, ē Uli nānā hewa, ē Uli i uka, ē Uli i kai (prayer), O Uli, O Uli observe good, O Uli observe evil, O Uli inland, O Uli seaward.
  • ʻO ʻoe kā ia, ē ka lāuli pali o Uli (chant by Hiʻiaka), it is you then, O cliff darkness of Uli.
• References:
  • See HM 574, PH 144–7.

3. n., Early stage in the development of a foetus, as the body begins to form.

4. n., Name given by Malo for subjects of the chief; Emerson says they are black-haired persons.

• References:
  • Malo 194, 201.

5. nvt., To steer; steersman.

• Examples:
  • Uli hou ʻo ʻIwa (For. 5:287), ʻIwa again steered.
• References:
  • PPN ʻuli.

6. n., Short for ʻōuli, omen.

• Examples:
  • ʻO ka nānā uli, ʻo ka nānā ʻana nō ia i nā uli o ke kanaka, inā he kanaka waiwai, a inā he kanaka ʻilihune (For. 6:85), the study of omens, is a study of the omens regarding a person, whether [he will become] a person of wealth or a poor person.

7. n., Crowing of a cock.

• Rare

8. n., Type of sweet potato (no data).

• References:
  • For. 5:664–5.