Hau’oli Makahiki Hou
First of all, Happy New Year, Hawai’ian Style.
Our Hawaiian word of the week is hauʻoli makahiki hou which means “happy new year.”
Hau’oli means “happy.”
Makahiki means “year.”
Hou means new or “fresh.”
Repeat after me Hau’oli… Makahiki… Hou. Hou’oli Makahiki Hou.
Sign language
How you sign Hau’oli, happy, is you brush your open hand up your chest twice. Like your heart is excited. [see video]
How you sign year is you circle one fist around the other. And then bump one on top of the other.
The sun is in the center and the earth goes around it for one year, Makahiki, year.
The sign for new looks like you are scooping or shoveling up a new plant from the ground.
Your left hand is the ground and your right hand scoops.
Let’s do the whole thing together, Hau’oli Makahiki Hou.
