Manao: What else does it mean?

Aloha mai!

Are you familiar with the word manao? Most people know that it means idea or thought. I often hear people say, “I appreciate you sharing your manao with us” or “What’s the manao of the day.” 

That’s what most people know. What almost nobody knows is that we use manao to mean intent or intention as well. You might be thinking, huh? How does that relate? I don’t make the rules, I just play by them. 

A few years back, I was at the home of a kupuna in his 80s, a native speaker of olelo kanaka (Hawaiian language). We were there to document him as well as his cousin. Towards the end of our visit, he looked at our young crew and said, "You folks get good manao." He had turned down many people who tried to get him on camera, but because we had good manao (intentions) he opened up his door to us.

When you go to other people’s land or homes, the manao you come with is of the utmost importance. The way you olelo (speak), the way you hana (act), tells us what your manao is. So go with good manao. 

Here's how manao sounds in use:

• Ua hele laua me ka manao e kokua i ka ohana — they went intending to help the family.

• Hewa ko lakou manao — they have ill intent.

Now I'll turn it over to you. Have you heard the meaning of manao? What would you like to learn more about? Is there something you heard that you weren't sure about? What are you struggling with in your own learning?

Me ka manao maikai,

Maluhia