23 Comments
This is more than just "hello", and is misleading to leave it only as such.
There is more to this meaning than "hello". It means "hello to them two" or "hello to the two of them".
"Peace and love between us two" helps me to make so much more sense of this, because I know aloha means more than just "hello". But with that in mind, it kind of seems like "Aloha kāua" could be used for more than just a greeting?
We all know that language says a lot about culture. I like it that DLHawaiian has introduced this so early in their syllabus. English speakers are unfamiliar with the concept (formalized in language) 'you and I together', "all of you & I" , "you two but not including me" "those two not including you or I" and more. Relationships are very important in Hawaiian culture and specific ways of talking about relationships have been incorporated into the language.
A little early for this but oh well dl should teach the differences early between kaua laua olua ... Kakou lakou oukou
Interesting that "Another correct answer" is "Aloha !" with a space before the "!"! When I went to English class, that was wrong.
In some languages like French, I believe, its considered the correct way, putting a space between the word and exclamation mark
Pukui translates this as "May there be love between you and me" DL does not accept this
It is confusing as to what the correct answer is - I think it is saying hello to two people, not including oneself, but I'm not sure
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I think it includes the speaker and one listener. jdmcowan put it well above as "Peace and love between us two."
It does not just mean Hello: it is Hello between two people. Closest translation would be Hello between us two
In fact, it doesn't mean "Hello" at all! The closest literal translation would be more like, "Peace and love between us two." But that's not really something we say in English. Neither do we say, "Hello between us two," in English. At those times where a person greeting someone in Hawaiian might say, "Aloha kāua," an English speaker would be more likely to say just, "Hello!" So while it is a terrible literal translation, it is an ideal substitution between the two languages and that is what Duolingo is trying to teach here.
But in doing so it does not teach the full spectrum of pronouns, Kāua, kākou, māua, mākou, lāua, lākou, ʻolua, 'oukou, all have different usage. Ōlelo Hawaiʻi differentiates singular, dual, and plural as well as inclusive or exclusive pronouns.
If 'Aloha' means hello, and 'kaua' means you and I, then why bother with the kaua at all? Is there an unspoken sentiment behind saying hello in this manner?
In ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi the relationship between speakers is very important. There are words for us two, those two, a group of equals, a group greeted by a kumu etc. a group you are to a part of etc. English protocols for greetings do not translate well. In fact many Hawaiian words do not really translate into English as they are not "English" concepts.
Remember "Aloha" doesn't MEAN "hello," it works as a greeting. It means "love, getting along together, warm feelings" and the like. As a greeting it will usually be followed by kākou or kāua. "We're good."
