Hawaii Dictionary

Hawaii is a special place in and of itself and the meanings of these places are very close and dear to our hearts. The names and locations of great resorts will continue to be cherished in the real estate community for generations to come. These words and definitions deserve the highest respect. It is our "Kuleana" (responsibility) to protect these wonderful names and to understand what they actually mean.

A

Ainamalu - Protected, peaceful land.

Ali'i - Chief, King, Royal.

H

Hamakua - The breath of God.

Hapuna - Spring of life.

Hali'i Kai - Spreading out to the sea.

Hawaii - Place of the Gods.

Hilo - First night after the new moon.

Hualalai - Of the volcano.

K

Kailua - Two seas or two currents.

Kamuela - Hawaiian for Samuel, honoring a prominant Waimea resident.

Kau - To settle.

Kaupulehu - The roasted breadfruit or the Ahupua'a - land division.

Keahou - The new era.

Kealakekua - Path of the Gods.

Kohala - Extinct Volcano. Oldest of five volcanoes.

Kohanaiki - Small barrenness.

Kolea - A migrating plover.

Kona - Lady.

Kukio - Small pool of water, standing pool.

M

Makalawena - Mischievous winds.

Mauna Kea - Highest mountain on Hawai'i. Snow mountain.

Mauna Lani - Mountain reaching heaven.

P

Puakea - White flower.

Puako - The tassel of the sugar cane or the flower of the Kou tree.

Puaoa - Fog.

Puna - Spring, well.

Puu Lani - Heavenly hills.

W

Waikoloa - Cold wind.

Waimea - Reddish water.

Waipio - Curved water.

Hawaiian Alphabet

The Hawaiian alphabet (piapa), was written by missionaries in the 19th century. The alphabet contains 13 letters, 5 of which are vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 8 of them are consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w, '). One of the consonants is an okina ( a symbol that looks similar to an apostrophe). That's twelve letters and an apostrophe for a total of 13 letters.