aumakua
|au-ma-ku-a|
/aʊˈmɑːkuə/
ancestral guardian spirit
Etymology
'aumakua' originates from Hawaiian, composed of elements including 'au' and 'mākua', where 'mākua' meant 'parent' or 'elder'.
'aumakua' developed within the Polynesian language family (including Proto-Polynesian elements such as *matua/‘mākua' for 'parent'), and became established in the Hawaiian cultural and religious lexicon as 'aumākua'.
Initially referring to 'parents' or 'ancestors' (literally linked to 'mākua'), it evolved into the specific cultural meaning of an ancestral guardian spirit in Hawaiian belief.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in Hawaiian religion, a family or personal god — an ancestral or guardian spirit believed to watch over and protect a family or individual.
Her grandmother taught her about the family's aumakua and the animals that could appear as its signs.
Synonyms
Noun 2
an ancestral being that can manifest in particular forms (often animals such as sharks, owls, or lizards) to guide, warn, or protect descendants.
Fishermen respected the aumakua of their family, believing sharks that appeared near their canoes could be protective signs.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/19 19:28