Kolohe: The "Lovable Rascal" Trap

1. The "Good" Naughty: When locals call a child (keiki) kolohe, it rarely means they are "evil" or "criminal." It usually means they are high-spirited, curious, and impossible to control.

• The Vibe: Think "Dennis the Menace," not a juvenile delinquent. It implies a level of cleverness or wit behind the trouble they cause.

2. The Severity Scale: If a child is truly doing something terrible (like hurting others), we wouldn't use kolohe. We might call them Lolo (crazy/stupid) or just "bad." Kolohe is reserved for the kid who climbs the mango tree after being told "no" three times.

3. The Adult Warning (The "Flirty" Trap): Be very careful using this word with adults.

• Context: If you say an adult man has "Kolohe hands," you aren't saying he is a rascal; you are saying he is promiscuous or "handsy."
• The Rule: If they are under 12, it's mischief. If they are over 21, it's often sexual innuendo.