Hawaiian Word of the Week: Anuenue
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Rainbows, or anuenue, are synonymous with Hawaii. Anuenue have such a deep meaning to Hawaiians. You see anuenue on almost everything in Hawaii…souvenirs, license plates, and even the mascot of the University of Hawaii are the Rainbow Warriors.
Hawaii seems to be blessed, though, with much of the real thing. It isn’t out of the ordinary on my trips to Hawaii that I’m lucky enough to see many anuenue. Hawaii’s climate is to blame for such a gorgeous show by nature: The combination of so much of what makes Hawaii paradise, clouds, trade winds, mountains and even the clean air are all the perfect ‘storm’ to create vibrant anuenue.
But the symbolism of anuenue is what is so meaningful. For Hawaiians, anuenue symbolize a path. For those on earth, in death, it is the path to the heavenly world. It was also a path for the gods to come down to earth. Today, when a beloved pet dies, we talk about how they ‘crossed the rainbow bridge.’
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