Keonaona Kapuni-Reynolds
Laehala, Keaukaha, Hawai'i
12/VI/01

Wā ‘Akahi

Pāpaua
Ka Makua

Hānau ka Pāpaua,
‘o ka ‘Ōlepe kāna keiki, puka

First Epic

Pāpaua
The Parent

The Pāpaua gives birth,
the ‘Ōlepe emerges

Aloha Ka Manini

Mai loko mai ‘o E Oli Ana Kākou

Aloha, ka manini me ka pōpolo,
He i‘a noho ia, i Kalaupapa
Kala, ka nenue, ‘o ka nahawele.
Moani ke ‘ala, ke honi aku
Āhole i‘a, piko lihaliha,
Poi, ‘Uala, ka ‘ohi pu‘u
Hā‘ina ‘ia mai ‘ana ka puana,
Aloha ka manini me ka pōpolo.

Aloha Ka Manini

From E Oli Ana Kākou

Loved is the manini and the pōpolo,
Food that can be found in Kalaupapa.
The Kala, the Nenue and the Nahawele,
The fragrance wafts when its smelled.
The Āhole with its fat and juiciness
Poi, ‘Uala, gathered for the throat.
The story has been told,
Loved is the manini and the pōpolo.

Kekahi ‘Ike Hou A‘e

Inoa Hawai‘i: Pāpaua, Nahawele

Inoa Pelekānia: Purse Shells

Inoa ‘Epekema: Family Isognomonidae. Isognomon spp.

Kona ‘ano: He ‘ohana ka pāpaua i ka ‘ōlepe eia na‘e ‘oi aku ka wīwī a pālahalaha o kēia mau pūpū. ‘A‘ole i like ka pāpaua me kekahi ‘ano pāpaua ‘ē a‘e no ka mea ‘oko‘a ke kinona o kēlā me kēia pūpū. Ho‘opili ka pāpaua iā ia iho i nā pōhaku a me nā mea ‘ē a‘e o ke kai pāpa‘u.

‘Ikepili Hoihoi: Like ke ‘ano ‘o loko o ka pāpaua me ka nānā ‘ana o ka momi. He hinuhinu a pālahalaha ke nānā aku.

More Information

Hawaiian Name: Pāpaua, Nahawele

English Name: Purse Shells

Scientific Name: Family Isognomonidae. Isognomon spp.

Description: The pāpaua is family to the ‘ōlepe, however it is much thinner and flatter than those shells. The pāpaua is not the same as another pāpaua shell because the shape of each shell is different. The pāpaua attaches itself to the rocks and other things in the shallow sea.

Interesting Fact: The inside of the pāpaua shells looks just like a pearl. It is shiny and smooth when looked upon.