wana
The Hawaiian word for sea urchin is wana.
wana refers to any of the many marine echinoderms belonging to the class Echinoidea.
Meaning: any of many marine echinoderms of the class Echinoidea (noun)
Did you know?
- The word wana can be used in Hawaiian metaphors to describe someone who is prickly, defensive or difficult to approach.
- In traditional Hawaiian cuisine, certain species of wana are highly prized delicacies, often served as a luxury food item.
- The Hawaiian word wana shares the same ancient Proto-Polynesian root as the Samoan word vana, meaning they are linguistic siblings.
Examples in context
- He wana kēlā.That is a sea urchin.
- Ua ʻike au i ka wana.I saw the sea urchin.
Example conversation
Kai and Kiana are walking along the beach.
- KaiE nānā, he wana kela!Look, that is a sea urchin!
- KianaHe kiʻi nani ia.It is a beautiful sight.
- KaiAkā, he mākū ka wana.But, the sea urchin is wet.
- KianaʻAe, e akala kākou.Yes, let's be careful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
