The Rainbow Groups
 

There are many types of rainbows (depending on how you count). The Hawaiian language has specific words for each of these but there are also a number of terms that are used to refer to rainbows in general, such as:

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1. Ānuenue (a rainbow)

2. Lihi (the rainbow itself)

3. Mākole (rainbow. pō mākole, night with a [lunar] rainbow.)

4. Ao akua (this is a figurative term for a rainbow)

5. Ka Haka ʻula a Kāne (this is also a figurative term for a rainbow)

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The rainbow types from the dictionary were collected. This collection formed the beginnings of the list shown in the table below. Within the table the rainbow types along with their definintions are shown.[1] As a result of the research for this project other types were added along with the source in which they were found. There are 3 sections of this table. The first section (lines 1-5), they are the 5 broad terms listed above. The second section (lines 6-34), they are the types that were found in the dictionary as well as other sources. The third section (lines 35-44), they are metaphors for rainbows that were found within chants and poetical sayings found within Mary Kawena Pukuiʻs book.[2]​​​

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Rainbows, rain, and mist have a close relationship. As a result, careful research is needed in order to determine what is being referred to within a story or other reference. For example, sometimes a pūnohu is a rainbow, and other times it is a mist. Similarly, there are certain other rainbow types that have definitions that include it being a rainbow or a mist. 

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The rainbow groups:

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The defintions of all the rainbow types were carefully analyzed, and are shown in the table above. As a result of this analysis, some similar rainbow traits were found within the definitions. These traits were then used for the purpose of grouping all the rainbow types into 10 trait groups. This grouping was used as a way to understand some relationships between and among the various rainbow types. Namely, their features, colors, heights, etc. This is understanding is valuable in identifying the specific type of rainbow that is appearing in the sky at a given time. The groups along with rainbow types in that group are shown in the table below. It turns out that some of the rainbow types fall within multiple trait groups, for example the ʻōnohi. Why is this?

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Perhaps, for the Hawaiian people of the various island of the archipelago, their thoughts about the rainbow types were different.[3] Therefore, on one island, the ʻōnohi was a rainbow fragment, but on another island, the ʻōnohi was closely associated with a cloud. For the various characteristics of each and every rainbow type, the definitions can be somewhat variable in their emphasis. The traits then have a rank or position. For this project a primary trait and secondary traits were assigned to each rainbow type by the author. What is a primary trait? This is the most obvious trait or characteristic that an observer might first notice. Such as itʻs body type perhaps, itʻs color perhaps, itʻs altitude perhaps, or perhaps itʻs distance from a cloud, the sun, or the moon. Each rainbow type was assigned only one primary trait. What is a secondary trait? It is a trait or characteristic of a rainbow that is noticeable but not as obvious or as prominent as itʻs primary trait. See the glossary section of this website for additional explaination.

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As a result of this analysis, the primary trait for each and every rainbow type was identified. Then, each was placed within trait group. This shown in the left column of the table above. The bold font of the each rainbow type indicates the trait group that itʻs primary trait falls under. Following this, rainbow types whose secondary trait identify it being a member of additional trait group(s) were also placed within that group, these are shown in non-bolded font.

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Here is an example for the Uakoko. Referring to the table above, the Uakoko in bold font is within the group called low-lying rainbow, this is itʻs primary trait, low-lying rainbow. The uakoko also appears in other groups in non-bolded font, these are itʻs secondary triats. Namely, a red rainbow, a shaft rainbow, and a rainbow associated with a cloud. See below:

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Primary trait:           He ānuenue haʻahaʻa (a low-lying rainbow)

Secondary traits:     He ānuenue ʻula (a red rainbow)

                                He ānuenue kia kū (a shaft rainbow)

                                He ānuenue pili i ke ao (a rainbow associated with a cloud)

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Here is a translation for all 10 trait groups:

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1. The arching rainbows

2. The rainbow metaphors

3. The rainbows associated with a cloud.

4. The rainbow fragments

5. The green rainbows

6. The low-lying rainbows

7. The standing shaft rainbows

8. The rainbows around the sun or moon

9. The faint, dim, obscure rainbows

10. The red rainbows

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The rainbow types are organized by group on the rainbow types page of this website.

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[1] n.d. Wehewehe Wikiwiki. Ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo. n.d. https://hilo.hawaii.edu/wehe/.

[2] Mary K. Pukui. 1983. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau. Honolulu, HI: Ka Paʻi Palapala a ka Hale Hōʻikeʻike o Kamehameha.

[3] Dr. Kaliko Baker, Ua nīnauele ʻia e Hoaloha Westcott. 2021. (Ianuali 22).

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