Kaona (Hidden Meaning) and Rhetoric

Kaona

About this concept

Kaona is the practice of layered, hidden meaning in Hawaiian language, especially in songs, chants, and political speech. Surface meaning conceals deeper cultural, emotional, or political messages.

In Settemila Lingue, this concept generates a practice deck of ~35 cards at level C2.

Examples

Ka ua Tuahine o Mānoa.The Tuahine rain of Mānoa. (a person who brings renewal)

Puʻu ʻōhelo i ka pōhaku.ʻŌhelo berries on the rocks. (beauty in hardship)

He lālā au no kuʻu kumu.I am a branch of my tree. (I belong to my lineage)

Kilohi aku i ka maka.Gazing with the eyes. (deep observation/longing)

Prerequisite

Proverbs and Sayings (ʻŌlelo Noʻeau)C1

More C2 concepts

Niʻihau DialectʻŌlelo Niʻihau Formal Written HawaiianʻŌlelo Palapala Modern Hawaiian and NeologismsʻŌlelo Hou Prayer and Spiritual LanguageʻŌlelo Pule Narrative and Storytelling ConventionsMoʻolelo

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