Heʻe nalu is the Hawaiian name for the traditional practice of surfing or wave sliding.
The expression is commonly translated as “wave sliding” or “wave sliding activity.” Hawaiian language and culture developed a rich vocabulary around the ocean, and wave riding was practiced by people across social groups before modern international surfing emerged.
Traditional Hawaiian surfing included different board forms and styles. Long boards, often called olo or alaia depending on their construction and use, allowed skilled riders to catch and travel across waves. Surfing also carried social and cultural significance, including competitions and links to chiefly status.
Modern English uses “surfing” worldwide, but heʻe nalu helps identify the activity’s Hawaiian roots. The answer is not “aloha ʻāina,” a phrase associated with love of the land, or “hula kahiko,” which refers to an older style of Hawaiian dance.