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TRADITIONAL
HAWAIIAN NAMES
                         

Traditional Hawaiian names have specific meanings and are usually given
to a person at birth by a kupuna (family elder) or by their parents. A
traditional Hawaiian birth name is typically chosen based on the following:
inoa po: name in the night; a name
received in a dream
inoa hoailona: name in a sign; a name received in the form of a
vision, mystic sign, natural phenomenon
inoa ulaleo: voiced name; a name heard
inoa hoomanao: commemorative name for an event or to honor a person
inoa kupuna: a name handed down; of an ancestor
inoa ewe: a name based on traits or personality
Traditional Hawaiian names are commonly given as first and/or middle names by
both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians in Hawaii and beyond. Below are some of the more popular
traditional Hawaiian names.
Name and phonetic sound |
Meaning |
|
Name and phonetic sound |
Meaning |
`Auli`i
[au lee' ee] |
Dainty, Cute, Exquisite, Cute, Perfect, Trim, Nice |
Lana
[lah nah] |
Calm
as still waters |
Lanakila
[lah nah key lah] |
Victorious |
Aikane
[ai kah' neh] |
Friend |
Lea
[lay ah] |
Mythological
goddess of canoe builders |
Ailani
[ah ee law nee] |
High
Chief |
Leia
[lay ee ah] |
Child
of Heaven |
Alana
[ah law nah] |
Awakening |
Leialoha
[lay a low ha] |
Beloved Child |
Ali'ikai
[ah lee 'ee kai] |
King
or Queen of the Sea |
Leilani
[lay lah nee] |
Heavenly
Lei; Royal Child |
Alohi
[ah low hee] |
Brilliant |
Luana
[loo on ah] |
Content;
Happy |
Anuhea
[ah new hay ah] |
Cool
and Fragrant |
Lulua`ina
[loo loo (w)ah' ee nah] |
Freckles |
Aolani
[a oh law nee] |
A
Heavenly Cloud |
Maka Koa
[mah' kah koh' (w)ah] |
Bold,
Fierce |
`Eleu
[eh' leu] |
Alert,
Lively, Energetic, Spry, Nimble, Agile |
Maka Launa
[mah' kah lau' nah] |
Friendly |
Hau'oli
[how ol ee] |
Joy,
Happy |
Maka Nani
[mah ka nah nee] |
Beautiful
Eyes |
Hawika
[hah vee ka] |
Beloved |
Maka
[mah' kah] |
Favorite
One |
Hepualaha'ole
[heh pooh ah lah ha oh lay] |
Uncommon
Flower |
Makaha
[mah' kah hah] |
Fierce,
Ferocious, Savage |
Hiapo
[hi ah poh] |
First
Born |
Makamae
[mah kah mae'] |
Precious,
Cherished |
Hiwalani
[he wah law nee] |
The
Attractive One |
Makana
[mah kah' nah] |
Gift |
Hiwahiwa
[hee' vah hee' vah] |
Precious,
Beloved, Darling, Indulged, Favorite |
Makani
[mah kah nee] |
Wind |
Hokuikekai
[hoh' koo' ee keh kai] |
Star
of the Sea |
Makani
[mah kaw nee] |
The
Wind |
Ho'opono
[ho oh poh no] |
Faithful |
Malana
[mah law nah] |
Calming,
Soothing |
Ikaika
[ee kai' kah] |
Strong,
Powerful |
Malie
[mah lee ee] |
Calm |
Iolana
[ee oh law na] |
To
Soar Like a Hawk |
Malu Lani
[mah loo law nee] |
Protected
by Heaven |
Ka Hiwa
[kah hee vah] |
The
Favorite One |
Maluhia
[mah loo hee ah] |
Peaceful |
Ka Nui
[kah new ee] |
The
Greatest |
Mano
[mah no] |
Shark,
Passionate Lover |
Ka Pua
[kah poo ah] |
The
Blossom |
Mea A`a
[meh (y)ah ah' ah] |
Adventurer |
Kau'i
[kah ooh ee] |
The
Beauty |
Meli
[meh' lee] |
Honey |
Kaila
[kah ee lah] |
Style |
Miliani
[me lee on nee] |
Gentle
Carress |
Kaimana
[kai mah nah] |
Divine
Power of the Sea |
Na`auao
[nah au (w)ao'] |
Intelligent |
Kaimi
[kah ee mee] |
The
Seeker |
Nahoa
[nah hoh' (w)ah] |
Defiant,
Bold |
Kalani
[kah law ee] |
Of
the Heavens, Chieftain |
Nalani
[nah lah nee] |
The
Calm of the Skys |
Kalea
[kah lee ah] |
Bright |
Nani
[nah' nee] |
Beautiful,
Pretty |
Kamea
[kah may ah] |
The
One and Only |
Niele
[nee' (y)eh leh] |
Curious |
Kanunu
[kah new new] |
The
Strong One |
Noa
[noh' (w)ah] |
Free,
Freedom |
Kapa`a
[kah pah' ah] |
The
Firm, The Steadfast |
Noelani
[no eh lah nee] |
Beautiful
Girl from Heaven |
Kei
[kei] |
Dignified |
Nohea
[no hay ah] |
Loveliness |
Keilani
[kay ee law nee] |
Glorious
Chief |
Nui
[nui] |
Big,
Large, Great, Important |
Kekipi
[keh kee' pee] |
The
Rebel |
Okalani
[oh kah lah nee] |
From
Heaven |
Kekoa
[keh koh' (w)ah] |
The
Brave, The Courageous |
Palani
[pah law nee] |
A
Free Man |
Keli'i
[key lee ee] |
The
Chief |
Pauo'le
[pow oh lay] |
Never
Ending |
Koa
[koh' (w)ah] |
Brave,
Bold, Fearless |
Pili Lani
[pee lee lah nee] |
Close
to Heaven |
Konani
[co naw nee] |
Bright |
Pilialoha
[pee lee ah loh' ha] |
Close
Friend |
Ku'uaki
[koo' oo (w)ah' kee] |
Guardian |
Po`okela
[poh oh keh lah] |
Champion,
Best, Foremost, Superior |
Ku`u Hoaloha `Oi
[koo' oo hoh (wah) loh' hah oi] |
My
Best Friend |
Polunu
[poh' loo noo] |
Chubby
|
Ku`u Maka
[koo' oo mah' kah] |
Apple
of My Eye |
Pomaika`i
[poh' mai kah' ee] |
Lucky,
Blessing, Good Fortune, Blessed, Prosperous |
Ku'oko'a
[koo oh koh ah] |
Independent |
Pono
[poh no] |
Righteous |
Kupa`a
[koo' pah ah] |
Loyal |
Pua
[poo' (w)ah] |
Flower |
Ku'uipo
[koo oo ee poh] |
Sweetheart |
Pualani
[poo ah law nee] |
Heaven's
Flower; Heavenly Flower |
Lae`ula
[lae oo' lah] |
Clever |
Puanani
[poo ah naw nee] |
Beautiful Flower |
Laka
[lah' kah] |
Gentle,
Tame |
Punahele
[poo nah heh' leh] |
Favorite |
Lalama
[lah lah' mah] |
Daring,
Fearless, Clever |
Ualoheke Akua
[oo' (w)ah loh' heh keh ah koo' (w)ah] |
God
Has Listened |
If
you have photographs from your Hawaiian theme celebration showing how you transformed your
party or wedding into a Hawaii oasis that you would like to share and have posted on this
web site please email them to us at islandfriends@aol.com
                         
Return to the main Hawaiian name
translations page
                         
Be sure to check out our
additional tips and resources
for having a Hawaii theme luau!
                         
                         

                         


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