koa
The Hawaiian word for brave is koa.
The adjective koa describes someone who is strong in the face of fear. The word 'koa' stems from a noun meaning 'warrior' or 'valiant soldier'.
Meaning: strong in the face of fear (adj)
Did you know?
- The word koa is also the name for the 'koa tree', a massive hardwood native to Hawaii that was traditionally used to craft weapons and canoes.
- The quality of being koa was not just about physical fighting but was tied to the concept of 'mana', a spiritual power and energy.
- In the Māori language of New Zealand, the word for 'brave' or 'warrior' is also toa, reflecting a shared ancestral origin.
Examples in context
- He koa kēia keiki.This child is brave.
- Hiki iā ʻoe ke lilo i mea koa.You can become a brave person.
Example conversation
Kiana and Ikaika are talking about a scary hike.
- KianaUa makaʻala loa ʻoe.You were very alert.
- IkaikaUa hana au i ka mea koa.I did the brave thing.
- KianaHe koa loa ʻoe, e Ikaika.You are very brave, Ikaika.
- IkaikaMahalo, e Kiana.Thank you, Kiana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brave” translations and entries koa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries koa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
