Hawaiian Phrase of the Week: kulia i ka nu'u

The start of the new year can make us feel invincible. We think about what the year to come may hold and I know I start off feeling empowered to make this my best year yet. I work to set my goals for bettering myself and focus on kūlia i ka nu’u (pronunciation: koo-lee-ah ee kah noo-oo), or literally ‘striving to reach the summit’.

Kūlia i ka nu’u really comes down to achieving personal excellence. Everything, including us, is a constant work in progress and we work hard to better ourselves. It is believed that Queen Kapi’olani was a big believer in kūlia i ka nu’u and that our biggest competition for advancement is our former selves.

It is about the journey and not the destination. 

How are you employing kūlia i ka nu’u in 2023?

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