I kinohi hana ke Akua

The Hawaiian language has the shortest alphabet in the world: just seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, and w) and five vowels (a, e, i, o, u). The preponderance of liquid sounds gives it an almost ethereal quality that makes it a joy to hear, or even to read, whether one understands it or not.

Here are a few verses from the Hawaiian Bible, with illustrations from Oahu that are at least semi-appropriate. The text, of course, is Genesis 1:1-10.

1 I kinohi hana ke Akua i ka lani a me ka honua.
2 He ano ole ka honua, ua olohelohe; a maluna no o ka hohonu ka pouli. Hoopunana iho la ka Uhane o ke Akua maluna o ka wai. 3 I iho la ke Akua, I malamalama; a ua malamalama ae la.
4 Nana ae la ke Akua i ka malamalama, ua maikai: a hookaawale ae la ke Akua mawaena o ka malamalama, a me ka pouli.
5 Kapa mai la ke Akua i ka malamalama, he Ao, a kapa mai hoi ia i ka pouli, he Po. A o ke ahiahi a me ke kakahiaka, o ka la mua ia. 6 ¶ I iho la ke Akua, I aouli mawaena o na wai, i mea hookaawale i kekahi wai me kekahi wai.
7 Hana iho la ke Akua i ke aouli; a hookaawale ae la ia i ka wai malalo o ke aouli, me ka wai maluna o ke aouli: a pela io no.
8 Kapa iho la ke Akua i ke aouli, he Lani. A o ke ahiahi a me ke kakahiaka, o ka lua ia o ka la. 9 ¶ I iho la ke Akua, E hui pu na wai malalo o ka lani i kahi hookahi, i ikea ai kahi maloo: a pela io no.
10 Kapa iho la ke Akua i kahi maloo, he Aina; a kapa iho la oia i na wai i hui pu ia'i, o na moana:a nana ae la ke Akua, ua maikai.

For other blogs from the Baptist World Alliance Executive Committee meeting in Honolulu, see Peace in the Valley and Holy Hula.

More to come.