hoʻolei
The Hawaiian phrase for 'give a lei' is hoʻolei.
hoʻolei specifically refers to the act of placing a necklace of flowers or other greenery around someone's neck. While the general Hawaiian word for 'to give' is haʻawi, hoʻolei is used for this specific ceremonial action.
How does it change in a sentence?
hoʻolei is a transitive verb, which means it requires an object. In a sentence, you would include the person receiving the lei as the object of the verb.
When do people say it?
If you receive a lei, it is customary to accept it graciously and wear it throughout the day, only removing it privately.
Did you know?
- The word lei originally meant 'to leap' or 'to spring forward' before it became the name for the beloved floral garlands.
- In Hawaiian culture, a lei is not just a decoration but represents 'aloha', a complex concept encompassing love, peace and compassion.
- If you were to use the word haʻawi instead of hoʻolei, you would essentially be saying you are giving someone a 'gift' or a 'commodity'. This lacks the ritual weight intended by the specific verb hoʻolei.
Examples in context
- Makemake au e hoʻolei iā ʻoe.I want to give you a lei.
Example conversation
Kiana is welcoming Kai to a party.
- KianaAloha, e Kai! E hoʻolei au iā ʻoe.Hello, Kai! I will give a lei to you.
- KaiMahalo nui, e Kiana.Thank you very much, Kiana.
- KianaHe lei pua nani kēia.This is a beautiful flower lei.
- KaiHe nani loa ia.It is very beautiful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hoʻolei, CC BY-SA 4.0.
