lōhiu
The Hawaiian word for wild (not domesticated or tamed) is lōhiu.
lōhiu is used to describe things that are not domesticated or have not been tamed.
Meaning: not domesticated or tamed (adj)
Did you know?
- While lōhiu describes a wild state, the concept of being 'wild' in Hawaiian culture is often deeply tied to the concept of 'mana', or spiritual power, found in untamed nature.
- A speaker would not use lōhiu to describe a person's behavior, as Hawaiian uses entirely different, highly nuanced social descriptors for 'wild' humans.
- The concept of 'wild' does not exist as a strict binary between 'domesticated' and 'untamed' in traditional Hawaiian ecosystems, which were often highly managed.
Example conversation
Koa and Noelani are walking in the forest.
- KoaHe manu lōhiu kēlā!That is a wild bird!
- NoelaniHe nani loa kona ʻalaʻa.Its feathers are very beautiful.
- KoaKū lōhiu nō ia.It is truly wild.
- NoelaniʻAe, aheu ia.Yes, it is free.
