Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Hawaii A Polynesian woman.
  • noun Slang A woman surfer.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A Polynesian or Maori woman

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Hawaiian, from Proto-Polynesian *fafine.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Maori wahine ("woman"), from Proto-Polynesian *fafine.

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Examples

  • "Guard our wife" -- _Ka wahine a kaua_ -- says the Kauai chief to his comrade, "she belongs to us two" -- _ia ia kaua_.

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • Nolaila, ma keia kakahiaka, e lilo ana ka wahine a olua ia oe.

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • "Aole kaua e holo pu i Kauai," wahi a ka wahine, "aka, e kau wau me oukou a Kohala, hoi mai wau, alaila hoi oukou."

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • A no keia olelo a ka wahine kamaaina, alaila, ua ano e ko ke Alii wahine manao, aole nae oia i wikiwiki i ka huhu; aka, i mea e maopopo lea ai ia ia, hoomanawanui no o Laielohelohe.

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • Alii, o ka mea a ke Alii e lealea ai, oia ka wahine a ke Alii

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • A no kela olelo a ka wahine, hai aku o Hauailiki i kona manao, "Ua pono kou manao, ua like no kou manao me ko'u; aka, e hoohui mua kaua ia kaua iho e like me ka makemake o ka mea ume, a mahope loa aku, alaila hoao loa kaua."

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • A no keia mea, kauoha ae la ke Alii i na hoewaa e hoe pololei aku ma kahi a ka wahine e noho mai ana, a holo aku la a kokoke, halawai mua iho la lakou me ke kanaka e paeaea ana, ninau aku la, "Owai kela wahine e noho mai la iluna o ka pali maluna pono ou?"

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • "He mea kupanaha, aole hoi au wahine a kaua e noho nei, aka, iloko o kau mele e heluhelu nei, me he wahine la kau."

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • Alaila, hooko mai la o Aiwohikupua i ka ka wahine olelo, alaila, loaa mai la ka mahana e like me mamua.

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

  • Hinaikamalama, o Aiwohikupua keia mau waa, mahamaha mai la ka wahine me ka manao e hele aku ana a halawai me ka wahine; aka, aia no lakou ke lana malie mai la i ka moana.

    The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai Martha Warren Beckwith 1915

Comments

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  • A Polynesian woman.

    March 8, 2009