Hawaiian Noun/Verb · Culture
hei
Pronunciation: /hey/
Meaning
String figures or cat's cradle; also to ensnare or tangle.
Example sentences
Nānā mai, e ʻike ʻoe i ka hei aʻu e pāʻani nei.
Look, so you can see the string figure I am playing.
Ua hei ʻia ka manu i loko o ka hei kūkaʻa.
The bird was ensnared within the tangled net.
Hīmeni mākou i ka oli ʻo ka hei aloha no ka poʻe i hele.
We sang the chant of the beloved string figure for those who have gone.
About this word
“hei” is a Hawaiian noun/verb meaning String figures or cat's cradle; also to ensnare or tangle. It is part of the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) vocabulary in the category of Culture. Definitions are based on the Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary.