Historically, auwe was used to mourn for one beloved, functioning as a lamentation. It is an audible sigh of the soul, connecting the speaker to their emotions, their community, and their naʻau (gut/mind/heart), where Hawaiians traditionally believe emotions are centered.
When hearing about the loss of a beloved community figure or a sad event, a local might say "Auwe, such sad news," as seen in community discussions on Facebook .
As defined in the Ulukau Hawaiian Dictionary , auwe is an interjection used to express a wide spectrum of intense emotions: "Alas! Woe is me!" Wonder and Surprise: "Oh my goodness!"
It is also used to express shock at ignorance or incompetence.
Historically, auwe was used to mourn for one beloved, functioning as a lamentation. It is an audible sigh of the soul, connecting the speaker to their emotions, their community, and their naʻau (gut/mind/heart), where Hawaiians traditionally believe emotions are centered.
When hearing about the loss of a beloved community figure or a sad event, a local might say "Auwe, such sad news," as seen in community discussions on Facebook . Historically, auwe was used to mourn for one
As defined in the Ulukau Hawaiian Dictionary , auwe is an interjection used to express a wide spectrum of intense emotions: "Alas! Woe is me!" Wonder and Surprise: "Oh my goodness!" connecting the speaker to their emotions
It is also used to express shock at ignorance or incompetence. and their naʻau (gut/mind/heart)