Does the Hawaiin phrase Nana ka maka hoolohe ka pepeiao paa ka waha mean Observe with the eyes listen with the ears shut the mouth in English?

Answer 1

You both are close.... 1. the spelling is with the accents on "ho'olohe" and "pa'a", and the correct spelling is "waha". 2. though the meaning is largely the same, the translation is: Beautiful the eyes; listen the ears; silence the mouth.

Again, the general meaning is the same, but the HI'ians place so much more emphasis on the exact meanings of their words than english speakers. HI'ian words are typically defined by the feeling or emotion of the word rather than by a didactic meaning. Think of the meanings of the words beautiful and silence rather than observe and shut.

Yes...the spelling I have says "Nana ka maka, Ho olohe Ka Pepeia, Pa'a Ko Whaha"

Answer 2

Yes, the Hawaiian phrase "Nana ka maka, hoolohe ka pepeiao, pa'a ka waha" translates to "Observe with the eyes, listen with the ears, shut the mouth" in English.