How to Say “Crystal” in Hawaiian

Did you know?

• In traditional Hawaiian belief, the concept of a 'crystal' as a physical object is often inseparable from the spiritual energy or 'mana' the stone is thought to hold.
• While kika is the modern term for a mineral crystal, ancient Hawaiians might have used the term 'pōhaku' to describe such objects, as the distinction between a stone and a crystal was less important than its spiritual significance.
• Because Hawaiian has a limited number of consonants, many technical or scientific terms for minerals like 'crystal' are often newer adaptations or specific loanwords in modern botanical or geological Hawaiian.