Proverbs and Sayings:An Overview

Features of Proverbs

• Easy to remember• Widespread• Handed down

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

How Proverbs Inform

Give Advice

Express Cultural Views

In a battle between elephants, the ants get squashed.

The early bird gets the worm

Literary Elements

• Rhyme

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

Themes in Hawaiian Proverbs

Ola I ka wai a ka `opua.There is life in the water from the clouds.

CanoeingThere are many sayings about canoes and navigation. The paddling of a canoe implies everyone working together.

KaloKalo (Taro) is used in proverbs to represent life, health and lineage.

Lehua BlossomIn many Hawaiian proverbs, the lehua blossom is referenced to symbolize beauty.

WorkA frequent theme is labor and it arises in many contexts such as the ability to do work, the avoidance of work, the difficulty of work, the eagerness to finish work, work as a cooperative effort and the fruits of hard work.

WaterThere are many proverbs that use water to convey meaning.

References• 1. “Bubble Bath”. (2009) By um_m7amed. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/35626730@N04/3296193333/• 2. “Basket of Farm Fresh Eggs”. (2007) By **Mary**. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/virgomerry/2078404747/• 3. “Elephants Fighting in Amboseli – 16”. (2008) By yuchengchung. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/7516008@N04/2893924091/• 4. “Robin Eating Worm_1”. (2008) By MorrisCountyVarsity. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mchss/2616510195/• 5. “Rain in the Waipi`o Valley, Hawaii”. (2008) By TerryMcT. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/terrymct/2163921692/• 6. “Hawaiians Canoeing”. (2007) By DrakeJ. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakej/373932832/• 7. “Almost Heaven”. (2008) By Konakoka. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottkoka/2835060091/• 8. “Lehua Blossom with Vog”. (2009) By tinyfroglet. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyfroglet/3559060475/• 9. “A Hawaiian Garden in a Land Called Hanalei”. (2006) By WaltK. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/65068167@N00/292821326/• 10. Unnamed. (2007) By mik5156. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mik5156/1691622419/

• All photos made available under Creative Common License