Proverbs -- those inspirational words of wisdom that guide us in our daily lives -- were important to the Hawaiian people. What often distinguishes Native Hawaiian proverbs for the native is a reference to the natural world.
The renewed interest in Hawaiian proverbs can be traced to the book, 'Olelo No'eau, by the great Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui (a copy of this book -- with 2942 proverbs collected and translated by Kawena between 1910 and 1960 -- is available from the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.) Many of the proverbs on this web page come from this source.
Ma ka hana ka 'ike. Knowledge is gained by doing.
Ua lehulehu a manomano ka 'ikena a ka Hawai'i. Great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiian people.
E 'olelo pono kakou, e hana me ka 'oia 'i'o -- Let us speak at all times with goodness/righteousness, let us work with sincerity. (Haunani Apoliona, Alu Like)
'A'ohe hana i nele i ka uku -- Every deed -- good and bad -- receives its just reward. (Pukui #14)
'A'ohe pau ka 'ike i ka halau ho'okahi. All knowledge is not taught in one school (one learns from many sources.)
E kuahui like i ka hana. 'A'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia. Let everybody pitch in and work together. No task is too big when done by all.
I hole 'ia no ka i'e i ke kau o ka la. The time to cut designs in a tapa beater is when the sun is high (do your best work when you can do your best) (Pukui #1164)
Aloha mai no, aloha aku; o ka huhu ka mea e ola 'ole ai. When love is given, love should be returned. Anger is the thing that gives no life. (Pukui)
Kulia i ka nu'u. Strive for the highest.
Mai kapae i ke a'o a ka makua, aia he ola malaila. Do not set aside the teachings of one's parents for there is life there. (Pukui #2065)
note: the Hawaiian language indicates lengthened vowel sounds with a line, called a kahakö, written over the vowel to be lengthened. My Hawaiian fonts do not seem to permit this diacritical mark. E kala mai.