anana
1. (interjection) lo and behold! gee! wow! - an exclamation expressing admiration or surprise, usually followed by an explanation about the subject of the admiration. Sometimes first vowel is lengthened, i.e. ānana.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 106; Te Pihinga Audio Tapes/CDs (Ed. 2): exercise 40;)
Kātahi ka tukua ia kia haere. Anana, kātahi ka āta haere taua māia nei,a Tama-nui-te-rā (NM 1928:14). / Then Tama-nui-te-rā was released and lo and behold, then that fellow travelled more slowly.
Ānana, tutū ana te heihei (HKK 1999:25). / Lo and behold, what a commotion.