koholā
The Hawaiian word for whale is koholā.
koholā is used to refer to a whale, specifically a large sea mammal.
Meaning: large sea mammal (noun)
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, whales are often viewed not just as animals, but as 'aumakua, or ancestral guardian spirits that protect certain families.
- The term koholā is a cognate with the word tafora in the Futuna-Aniwa language, showing a linguistic link across thousands of miles of ocean.
- Because of the importance of these creatures, certain traditional chants or mele are dedicated entirely to the 'koholā.
Examples in context
- Ua ʻike ʻia ka koholā.A whale was seen.
- He nui ka koholā.The whale is large.
- E ʻike ana kākou i ka koholā.We are looking at the whale.
Example conversation
Kai and Noelani are looking at the ocean from the beach.
- KaiNoelani, e nānā i ka koholā!Noelani, look at the whale!
- NoelaniAole, he koholā nani kēlā.Wow, that is a beautiful whale.
- KaiHiki mai ia i ka kai.It came to the shore.
- NoelaniHe koholā nui loa ia.It is a very large whale.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whale” translations and entries koholā, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries koholā, CC BY-SA 4.0.
