‘Olelo No‘eau
Malolo kai e! Malolo kai e!
Tide is not high! Tide is not high!
Said of threatening disaster. Robbers once lived at a place in Wai‘anae now known as Malolo-kai. Their spies watched for travelers to kill and rob. When there were only a few that could be easily overcome, the spies cried, "Low tide!" which meant disaster for the travelers. But if there were too many to attack, the cry was, "High tide!"
Reference Cited
Pukui, M.K. 1983. ‘Olelo No‘eau, Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings. Bishop Museum Press. Honolulu, HI.
