He’e, or octopus, is the focus word. Although other meanings emerge, giving glimpses how Hawaiians viewed their world.

To digress. The native Alahe’e tree was chosen anciently to make o`o or digging sticks – and a weapon when farmers joined in battle so ordered by the chiefs. I let kids handle my seven-foot, tight-grained, Alahe`e digging stick so they enjoy a “wow” experience, feeling how tough and heavy that wood is.

Now back to the subject. Why does the name of this tree, Alahe’e, mean “slippery fragrance”? A botany friend explains: “Ala means fragrant and he`e equals octopus. Hence, slippery like an octopus. However, it's the Alahe`e flowers that tell all. Yes, you can stick your nose into and smell the blossoms' sweetness; but, they're best enjoyed in the patient Hawaiian style. Let the breeze waft the scent to you.”  Voila, “slippery fragrance.” That sweet experience still happens. A Kona man says he always knows and enjoys the aroma of the Alahe'e blossoms when his car passes that portion of the highway where the trees grow.

More on that word he’e, found in the phrase “papa he’e nalu.”  Papa is a flat surface (e.g. a reef) – but used here it means surfboard. He’e means slippery; that’s why the slithery octopus gets that name. Nalu mean’s ocean wave. Hence, papa he’e nalu. Or: on surfboard sliding over wave.

Once more with he’e. Hula masters strictly forbade their students from eating octopus. Why? To eat it, they believed, would cause dance steps, hand motions and words learned to “slip” away.

Sources: (1) Hawaiian Dictionary, by M. Kawena Pukui & S.H. Elbert; (2) ‘Olelo No`eau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings, by M. Kawena Pukui; (3) Growing Native Hawaiian Plants, by H. Bornhorst. Everyone should have a copy of each.

Tags: Hawaiian Stories

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 7:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.