Hawaiian culture is rich with wisdom and warmth, captured beautifully in its sayings and proverbs. These quotes carry deep meanings and offer insights into life, love, and nature. They reflect the aloha spirit, fostering a sense of community and respect for the world.
Each quote carries a timeless lesson. Whether it’s about the importance of family, the value of patience, or the beauty of simplicity, these words resonate deeply. Let’s explore some of the best Hawaiian quotes that can inspire and uplift us in our daily lives.
Inspirational Quotes
“Hoʻokahi no laʻa ke aloha, ʻO ia ka mea e paʻa ai.” — Hawaiian Proverb
“Live your life while the sun is shining.” — Hawaiian Saying
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.” — The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. — Hawaiian State Motto
“He aloha kekahi i kekahi.” — Love one another. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Mahalo ke Akua no keia la.” — Thank God for this day. — Hawaiian Saying
“Aʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.” — No task is too big when done together. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Hoʻokāhi no ka ʻāina, ua like ke aloha.” — There is but one land, united by love. — Hawaiian Proverb
“‘A‘ohe lokomaika‘i i nele i ke pāna‘i.” — No kind deed has ever lacked its reward. — Hawaiian Proverb
“It’s all about the journey, not the destination.” — Hawaiian Saying
“Pupukahi i holomua.” — Unite to move forward. — Hawaiian Proverb
“‘A‘ohe pau ka ‘ike i ka hālau ho‘okahi.” — Not all knowledge is taught in one school. — Hawaiian Proverb
“With kindness comes strength.” — Hawaiian Saying
“Maui nō ka ‘oi.” — Maui is the best. — Hawaiian Proverb
“E lawe i ke aʻo a mālama, a e ʻoi mau ka naʻauao.” — He who takes his teachings and applies them increases his knowledge. — Hawaiian Proverb
“A life of love is a life full of aloha.” — Hawaiian Saying
“E mālama pono ‘ia ka ‘āina.” — The land must be cared for. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Ua ola loko i ke aloha.” — Love gives life within. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Believe in the power of aloha.” — Hawaiian Saying
“Ka lā hiki ola.” — The dawning of a new day. — Hawaiian Proverb
“E ʻonipaʻa i ka ʻimi naʻauao.” — Be steadfast in the seeking of knowledge. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Every moment is an opportunity to grow and become better.” — Hawaiian Saying
“No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.” — Hawaiian Proverb
“Hoʻomau ka ʻike.” — Continue the learning. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Waves of change bring new opportunities.” — Hawaiian Saying
“Mālama i ka ‘āina, mālama i ke kanaka.” — Care for the land, care for the people. — Hawaiian Proverb
“‘A‘ohe hana e pa‘a i ka la‘u ho‘okahi.” — No task is too large when shared by all. — Hawaiian Proverb
“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.” — Hawaiian Saying
“Hoʻomanawanui.” — Be patient, be persistent. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Trust the magic of new beginnings.” — Hawaiian Saying
“Kūlia i ka nuʻu.” — Strive for the highest summit. — Hawaiian Proverb
“Aʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.” — No task is too big when done together. — Hawaiian Proverb
Famous Hawaiian Quotes
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.” – The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
“E mālama ʻoe i ka ʻāina, e mālama ka ʻāina iā ʻoe.” – Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.
“Aloha kekahi i kekahi.” – Love one another.
“He pūkoʻa kani ʻāina.” – A coral reef that grows into an island (Small things can grow into big matters).
“ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.” – No task is too big when done together by all.
“ʻIke no i ka lā o ka ʻike.” – Recognize the day of understanding.
“Hoʻolaʻi nā manu i ke aheahe.” – The birds poise quietly in the gentle breeze.
“He aliʻi ka ʻāina; he kauwā ke kanaka.” – The land is the chief; man is its servant.
“Aʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau ho’okahi.” – All knowledge is not taught in the same school.
“Pupukahi i holomua.” – Unite to move forward.
“Ua ola loko i ke aloha.” – Love gives life within.
“Nānā i ke kumu.” – Look to the source.
“Kūlia i ka nuʻu.” – Strive to reach the summit.
“He lawaiʻa no ke kai papaʻu, he pōkole ke aho; he lawaiʻa no ke kai hohonu he loa ke aho.” – A fisherman of shallow seas uses a short line; a fisherman of the deep sea uses a long line (A person’s decisions depend on his or her experience).
“ʻAʻohe ʻulu e loaʻa i ka pōkole o ka lou.” – No breadfruit can be reached when the picking stick is too short.
“He ʻolina leo kā ke aloha.” – Joy is in the voice of love.
“Hoʻokahi ka ʻilau like ana.” – Wield the paddles together.
“Mālama i ka ʻāina, mālama ke kanaka nui.” – Take care of the land, and the land will take care of you.
“E ʻonipaʻa i ka ʻimi naʻauao.” – Be steadfast in the seeking of knowledge.
“Pono ke hana o ka ʻāina.” – Good is the work of the land.
“Hoʻokāhi no laʻau lapaʻau, e mālama.” – There is but one medicine, take care of it.
“Haʻahaʻa ka mea he ʻole.” – Humility is never without reward.
“E hoʻi i ka piko.” – Return to the source.
“ʻO ka makapo wale nō ka mea hapapa i ka pōuli.” – Only the blind gropes in the darkness.
“Aia nō i ke kō a ke au.” – The current is within the sugar cane.
“ʻAʻohe mea ʻoi aʻe ma mua o ke aloha.” – Nothing is more important than love.
“ʻO ka pono ke hana ʻia a iho mai na lani.” – Blessings come to those who persist in doing good.
“Hoʻokahi no ka pua ke aloha.” – Love stands alone and unique as one flower.
“Kōkua aku kōkua mai.” – Help and be helped.
“Mahalo no ke kipaku ʻana mai iā mākou.” – Thank you for driving us away (said in gratitude once comprehension hits).
“ʻIke aku, ʻike mai.” – Recognize and be recognized.
“E kūlia i ka lōʻihi.” – Strive for the length of life.
Nature Quotes
“The earth has music for those who listen.” – George Santayana
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir
“Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more.” – Vincent van Gogh
“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.” – John Muir
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
“The poetry of the earth is never dead.” – John Keats
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Cousteau
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir
“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” – Gary Snyder
“Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” – Hans Christian Andersen
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” – William Shakespeare
“The beauty of the natural world lies in the details.” – Natalie Angier
“Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.” – Isaac Newton
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Vincent van Gogh
“Nature is the art of God.” – Dante Alighieri
“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” – Aristotle
“Colors are the smiles of nature.” – Leigh Hunt
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein
“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” – Edward Abbey
“The earth laughs in flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.” – Gary Snyder
“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” – John Ruskin
“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wisdom Quotes
“Ua ola loko i ke aloha.” – Life is in love. – Hawaiian Proverb
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.” – Lao Tzu
“Huli ka lima i lalo.” – Turn the hands down. – Hawaiian Proverb (Focus on work)
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
“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. – Hawaiian Wisdom
“The past is a story we tell ourselves.” – Her (Movie)
“Ho‘okahi no la‘au lapa‘au, o ke aloha.” – Love is the only medicine. – Traditional Hawaiian Saying
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
“‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia.” – No task is too big when done together by all. – Hawaiian Proverb
“we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘aina i ka pono.” – The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. – State Motto of Hawaii
“To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen
“E lawe i ke a‘o a mālama, a e ‘oi mau ka na‘auao.” – Take what is learned and make it better. – Hawaiian Wisdom
“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
“Ho’i hou ke aloha.” – Love returned. – Hawaiian Proverb
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
“Mai ka ho‘oka‘a‘ike mai o ke aloha.” – From the communication of love comes understanding. – Hawaiian Proverb
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“‘A‘ohe pau ka ‘ike i ka hālau ho‘okahi.” – Not all knowledge is learned in one school. – Hawaiian Wisdom
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” – David Viscott
“Ike aku, ike mai, kokua aku kokua mai; pela iho la ka nohona ‘ohana.” – Recognize and be recognized, help and be helped; such is family life. – Hawaiian Proverb
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“He ali’i ka ‘āina, he kauwā ke kanaka.” – The land is a chief; man is its servant. – Hawaiian Wisdom
“It is not length of life, but depth of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Ka lā hiki ola.” – The dawning of a new day. – Hawaiian Proverb
“E aloha kekahi i kekahi.” – Love one another. – Hawaiian Proverb
“He pūko’a kani ‘āina.” – A coral reef that grows into an island. – Hawaiian Wisdom
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
“Ua ola loko i ke aloha.” – Love gives life within. – Hawaiian Wisdom
“Wisdom is the reward for surviving our own stupidity.” – Brian Rathbone
“He who plants a tree, plants a hope.” – Lucy Larcom
“Pupukahi i holomua.” – Unite to move forward. – Hawaiian Proverb
Love Quotes
“Ua ola loko i ke aloha.” – Love gives life within.
“Where there is love, there is life.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Aloha mai e, aloha aku; o ka huhu ka mea e ola ‘ole ai.” – Love is received and love is given; anger is the thing that gives no life.
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” – David Viscott
“Love is like the sea. It’s a moving thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from the shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.” – Zora Neale Hurston
“Aloha kekahi i kekahi.” – Love one another.
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” – Aristotle
“Aloha wau ia oe.” – I love you.
“The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton
“In dreams and in love, there are no impossibilities.” – Janos Arany
“Aloha is the presence of breath.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“We loved with a love that was more than love.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“Hau’oli i ka mea loa’a.” – Be happy with what you have.
“True love begins when nothing is looked for in return.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“The heart is a small thing, but desireth great matters.” – John Bunyan
“He kehau ho`oma`ema`e ke aloha.” – Love is like a cleansing dew.
“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” – Dr. Seuss
“Love knows no distance; it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars.” – Gilbert Parker
“Kūlia i ka nu’u.” – Strive to reach the highest.
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” – Audrey Hepburn
“Life is the flower for which love is the honey.” – Victor Hugo
“ʻO ka makapo wale nō ka mea hapapa i ka pouli.” – Only the blind gropes in the darkness.
“When love is not madness, it is not love.” – Pedro Calderón de la Barca
“A true love story never ends.” – Unknown
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller
“Ka na’auao o ke aloha.” – The wisdom of love.
“Love does not dominate; it cultivates.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“He pua no ka no‘u.” – Love is my reward.
“The giving of love is an education in itself.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
“I ka nānā no a ‘ike.” – By observing, one learns.
“Love is an endless act of forgiveness.” – Peter Ustinov
“He aloha wale no.” – Love is everywhere.
Cultural Quotes
“Aloha does not diminish. It is ever flowing, a boundless source of love and kindness.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono” – The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. – State Motto of Hawaii
“In Hawaii, we greet friends, loved ones, and strangers with Aloha, which means love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaii renowned as the world’s center for understanding and fellowship.” – Duke Kahanamoku
“Aloha is a value, one of unconditional love. Aloha is the outpouring and receiving of the spirit.” – Mark Ellman
“‘Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” – Lilo & Stitch
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home.” – Australian Aboriginal Proverb
“Live like the waves: be free, flow with the rhythm of nature, and embrace the ever-changing tides.” – Author’s Original
“He ali’i ka ‘āina, he kauwā ke kanaka” – The land is a chief; man is its servant. – Hawaiian Saying
“When we light a path for others, we naturally light our own way.” – Mary Ann Radmacher
“He pūko‘a kani ‘āina” – A coral reef strengthens into land. – Hawaiian Proverb
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Aloha is not just a word, it’s a way of life.” – Author’s Original
“The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.” – Chief Seattle
“No rain, no rainbows.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“Even when the sky is filled with clouds, the sun still shines above.” – Janet Foutz
“Ua ola loko i ke aloha” – Love gives life within. – Hawaiian Saying
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Cousteau
“He ‘ena kai kapekepeke” – A sea that is rough. – Hawaiian Proverb
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
“He ali‘i ka ‘āina” – The land is chief. – Hawaiian Proverb
“To live under the sun, to walk along the shore, that is to know the essence of Hawaii.” – Author’s Original
“He po‘i na kai uli, kai ko‘o‘o, ‘a‘ohe hina pūko‘a” – Though the sea be deep and rough, the coral rock remains standing. – Hawaiian Proverb
“The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people.” – Author’s Original
“He hō‘ike‘ike kīhāpai” – A display of gardens. – Hawaiian Saying
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Maluhia i ka lani” – Peace in the heavens. – Hawaiian Saying
“The heart of Hawaii beats in rhythm with the world.” – Author’s Original
“E mālama i ka ‘āina” – Take care of the land. – Hawaiian Proverb
“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” – Plato
“We are nature’s stewards, not its conquerors.” – Author’s Original
“He lani i luna, he honua i lalo” – A sky above, a world below. – Hawaiian Saying
“The land is sacred. The land is our mother, the source of our nourishment and our life.” – Author’s Original
Life Quotes
“E hele me ka pu’olo – Always take an offering with you.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Aloha kekahi i kekahi – Love one another.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
“Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono – The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” – Hawaii State Motto
“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” – Dalai Lama
“He ali’i ka ‘āina, he kauwā ke kanaka – The land is a chief; man is its servant.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
“A‘ohe pau ka ‘ike i ka hālau ho‘okahi – All knowledge is not taught in one school.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Ua ola loko i ke aloha – Love gives life within.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde
“I ka nānā no a ‘ike – By observing, one learns.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
“Ho‘oponopono – To make things right.” – Hawaiian Concept
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow.” – Lao Tzu
“He poho na ka lakou ho’opa’i’na – Their vengeance is worthless.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
“He pukoʻa kani ‘āina – A coral reef that grows into an island.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins
“Hana ka ho‘okele wa‘a i ka wa a ka moku – The steersman steers when the ship is in port.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“Mai ka piko o ke poʻo a ke kumu o ka hiʻu – From the top of the head to the base of the tail.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
“Mālama ke kanaka nui ka lu‘a – Cherish the big fellow, for he is the protector of others.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Ho‘oilo a kauwela, i ka ‘ōʻili ‘āina o ke ola – Winter and summer, in the manifestations of life.” – Hawaiian Proverb
“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” – Joseph Campbell
“Pau ka pono ‘ia i ka mo’a – The good is cooked and eaten.” – Hawaiian Proverb
Closing Thoughts
As you explore the beauty of Hawaiian quotes, it’s easy to see why they resonate with so many people. Their timeless wisdom and vibrant imagery capture the essence of Hawaii’s culture and natural beauty. These quotes remind us to live in harmony with nature, cherish our connections with others, and embrace the simple joys of life.
By reflecting on these sayings, we can find inspiration and peace in our everyday lives. Whether you use them as personal mantras or share them with friends, Hawaiian quotes carry a universal appeal. Their messages of love, respect, and gratitude are values that everyone can appreciate and strive to live by.
