Hawaiian Adjective · Everyday
hāpawa
Pronunciation: /HA-pa-wa/
Meaning
To be slow or lagging. Describes a pace.
Example sentences
Ua hāpawa ka holo ʻana o ka moku i mua o ka makani ikaika.
The ship's progress was slow against the strong wind.
Noho ihola au ma ke kahakai, me ka nanea ʻana i ka nalu e hāpawa ana i uka.
I sat on the beach, enjoying the waves slowly rolling ashore.
Hele mālie ʻoe, mai hāpawa i ka hele ʻana, e nānā ana au i ka manu.
Go slowly, don't lag behind in your walking, I'm watching the bird.
About this word
“hāpawa” is a Hawaiian adjective meaning To be slow or lagging. It is part of the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) vocabulary in the category of Everyday. Definitions are based on the Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary.