'du -hs *' on Mac failing with "du: illegal option -- n"
You probably have a file whose name begins with -n:
MyMac:~ user$ du -hs *
4.9G    Applications
1.1G    Desktop
2.2G    Documents
954M    Downloads
3.3G    Library
2.4M    Movies
7.8G    Music
 29G    Pictures
1.9G    Public
MyMac:~ user$ touch ./-none
MyMac:~ user$ du -hs *
du: illegal option -- n

Try du -hs -- *.