What Does Hau! Mean?
Hua! (pronounced "hoo-ah") is more than a word—it's a mindset.
In the military, Hua! means a lot:
• "Yes!" when you're ready
• "I understand" when it's clear
• "Outstanding!" when it's excellent
• "All in" when it matters
• "Let's go" when it's time to move
But at its core? Hua! means pressing forward—no matter what.
It's the attitude I learned as an Army Ranger and now live as a believer.
Turns out, a life of faith requires the same warrior mindset: Press on. Trust God. Stay all in.
My Hua! Story
The Beginning: Summer 1983. Airborne School, Fort Benning, Georgia.
My first real Army training with real Drill Sergeants. I was repeatedly frustrated every time we were 'punished with push-ups' over trivial or imagined infractions. It was completely senseless...to me...at that time. Grrr!
The Switch: Summer 1984. Air Assault School, Fort Hood, Texas.
The hazing was ramped up at Assault School.
But somewhere in the middle of a pointless push-up session, something shifted in me. I found myself actually yelling "HUA!" with the others whenever the drill sergeant told us to "Do it again."
My brain changed. My mind (mindset) was transformed. I wasn't just complying—I was 'embracing the suck'. That's when I knew: I'd been reprogrammed.
The Reinforcement: Summer 1986. Ranger School, Fort Benning, Georgia.
I would not have graduated without that Hua! mindset - I don't think you can. It provided the grit and perseverance I needed. And while I was there, I learned a phrase that captures the Hua! spirit perfectly: "Ain't nothin' but a thang." It means no matter what has happened—you pick up your gear and drive on.
Nearly 40 years later, I still say Hua! every day.
Hua! and Faith
Over time, I've learned that the Hua! mindset I gained in the Army wasn't separate from my faith—it was integral to it.
The life of a believer requires some of that same warrior mentality. When God calls you to step out in faith, you need Hua! When circumstances demand trust beyond what you can see, you need Hua! When obedience means doing the hard thing, you need Hua!
The Apostle Paul wrote: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal" (Philippians 3:13-14). That's Hua! language—pressing forward, all in, no quit.
Today I'm a Bible teacher, a Sunday School instructor, and yes—a guy who still says Hua! That mindset hasn't left me: Face challenges head-on. Trust God. Press on.
Faith isn't passive. It requires action. It requires courage. It requires Hua!
I don't think you can live by faith without it.
The Hua! Attitude (Hua-tude)
Hua! isn't just what you say—it's how you live.
It means facing challenges head-on instead of avoiding them. It means staying positive when circumstances get hard. It means being all in—no half measures. And it means encouraging others to press forward when they need it most.
That's the daily choice: press on—not because life is easy, but because God is faithful.
Every morning brings new mercies. Every day demands courage. Every challenge requires faith.
This is the Hua! way.
