NALU
nah-loo
[Hawiaan] noun
Wafe / Surf

1. Wave, surf; full of waves; to form waves; wavy, as wood grain.
Ke nalu nei ka moana, the ocean is full of waves.
hoʻo.nalu To form waves.

2. To ponder, meditate, reflect, mull over, speculate.
Nalu wale ihola nō ʻo Keawenui-a-ʻUmi i ka hope o kēia keiki Keawenui-a-ʻUmi pondered about the fate of this child.

3. Amnion, amniotic fluid.

Nalu most commonly refers to the waves, ebb & flow, and surf of the moana, the ocean. But this Hawaiian word has deeper, more spiritual meanings as well. To nalu is to mediate, ponder, contemplate.

Nalu also describes the cyclical nature of an event or feeling: the nalu of grief, for instance. The up and down nature of the ocean can be mesmerizing to watch and can provide a sense of calm. Studies have shown that hearing and watching nalu at the beach has positive health benefits.

In keeping with the concept of water and liquid, nalu is the amniotic fluid that surrounds and protects an unborn child.