The giving of a personal name is a very important aspect of Hawaiian culture. People select or are given Hawaiian names through a variety of ways. One way is to be named after someone, possibly a relative, friend, or an admired person from Hawaiian history. Another method is to be given a name which suits the person's personality. Sometimes a person will have a dream about a name to give to a child or loved one. In old Hawaii , it was common to name a child after an event that happened at or near the birth. A given name might also be changed later in life. Aside from using traditional Hawaiian names, sometimes people create their own by putting together a few words into a phrase.
Below is a list of popular, as well as some lesser-known, Hawaiian names. In ancient Hawaii , names were not necessarily male or female. The use of last names or family names is a Western tradition which began to be adopted in Hawaii in the late nineteenth century. Please be aware that many names have more meanings than the ones listed here.
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Alaka’i
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Leader
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Pomaika’i
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Blessed
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Alohilani
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Heavenly brightness
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Pono
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Righteous
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Anuenue
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Rainbow
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Pua
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Flower,blossom,child
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Anuhea
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Cool,soft fragrance
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Pualani
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Heavenly or royal flower
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‘Ehu
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Sea spray or reddish hair
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Descendants of chiefs
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‘Eleu
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Lively
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Heavenly child
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Hali’a-aloha
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Cherished memory of love
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Puanani
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Beautiful flower
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Hanohano
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Glorious
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Pulelehua
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Butterfly
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Haunani
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Handsome or beautiful ruler
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Punahele
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Favorite
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Hau’oli
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Happy
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Ululani
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Royal, heavenly inspiration
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Hi’ilani
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To care for,admire,exalt
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Wailele
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Waterfall
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Hi'ilei
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To carry and cherish a
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Kekai
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The sea
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beloved child
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Kekoa
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The warrior, the brave one
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Hoku
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Star
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Keti'i
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The chief
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HokUlani
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Heavenly star
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Keola
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Life
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Holokai
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To travel on the sea
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Koa
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Brave, warrior
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'Ihilani
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Heavenly splendor
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KUlani
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Chiefly nature
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Ikaika
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Strength, strong
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Ku'ualoha
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My love
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'llima
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A flower (Sida fallax)
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Ku'uipo
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My sweetheart
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'Iolani
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Royal hawk
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Ku'ulei
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My lei, my precious
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Ipo
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Sweetheart
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Lani
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Sky, or Chief
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Ka'ano'i
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Beloved
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Lehua
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Flower of the 'i5hi'a tree
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Ka'eo
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Full of knowledge
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Lei
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Lei (garland), a beloved one
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Kaha'i
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A hero's name
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Leialoha
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Lei of love
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Ka'i'ini
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The desire
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Leilani
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Heavenly lei
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Ka'imiloa
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The one who searches far
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Leimomi
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Pearl lei
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Ka'imipono
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The one who searches for
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Leina'ala
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Lei of fragrance or many
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righteousness
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flowers
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Kainalu
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Sea wave
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Leinani
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Beautiful lei
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Kainoa
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The name
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Liko
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Leaf bud, child or descendant
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Kaipo
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The sweetheart
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Litinoe
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Fine mist
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Kala
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The sun, the day
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Lokomaika'i
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Kindness
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Kala'i
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The calm, peace
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Luana
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To relax, enjoy leisure
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Kalama
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The torch, light
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Mahealani
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Night of the full moon
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Kalani
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The heavens, the chief
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Mahi'ai
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Farmer
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Kalei
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The lei
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Mahina
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Moon
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Kaleo
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The voice
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Maika'i
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Good, goodness
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Kamaile
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The maile vine (Alyxia
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Maile
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A vine (Alyxia olivaeformis)
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olivaeformis)
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Makalapua
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Handsome, beautiful
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Kamalani
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Heavenly child, child of a
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Makamae
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Precious
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chief
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Makana
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Gift
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Kamalei
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Beloved child
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Malie
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Calm
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Kanani
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The beauty
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Manu
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Bird
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Kanoa
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The free one (free from
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Manuwai
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Water bird
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kapu)
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Mapuana
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Wind-blown fragrance
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Kapono
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The righteous
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Mele
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Song, chant
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Kapua
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The flower
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Mililani
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To praise, give thanks
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Kauanoe
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The misty rain
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Moana
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Ocean
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Kauhi
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Name of a demigod (literally:
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Moanike'ala
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The fragrance is wind-blown
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the cover)
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Momi
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Pearl, precious one
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Kau'i
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The youthful beauty
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Nainoa
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The names
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Kaulana
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Famous
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Nalani
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The chiefs, the heavens
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Kawai
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The water
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Nani
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Beautiful
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Kawena
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The glow
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Napua
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The flowers, blossoms
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Keahi
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The fire
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Noa
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Free from kapu
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Keala
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The path
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No'eau
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Clever, skilled, artistic
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Ke'ala
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The fragrance
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Noelani
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Heavenly mist
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Keali'i
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The chief
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Nohea
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Handsome, pretty
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Kealoha
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Love
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'Oti
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Joy
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Ke'alohilani
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The heavenly brightness
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Onaona
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Fragrant
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Keanu
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The coolness
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Pi'ilani
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To climb to heaven, a chief's
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Keao
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The cloud
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name
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Kehau
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Dew
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Pilialoha
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Close friendship, bond of love
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Sources:
Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Mary Kawena Pukui & Samuel H. Elbert, University of Hawai'j Press , Honolulu, HI , 1986.
The Hawaiian Name Book, by Patrick Ka'ano'i & Robert Lokomaika'i Snakenberg, Bess Press, Honolulu, HI , 1988.
Hawaiian Names - English Names, by Eileen M. Root, Press Pacifica , Kailua, HI , 1987.
Hawaiian Annual, 25" anniversary issue, "Hawaiian Personal Names," pp. 113-120, T.G.Thrum, Honolulu, HI, 1899.
Nana I Ke Kumu. vol. 1, by Mary Kawena Pukui, Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, Honolulu, HI , 1972.
Paradise of the Pacific, September 1926, Honolulu, HI , "The Romance of Hawaiian Personal Names," by J.M. Lydgate.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 1, 2001, page C5, "The Name Game," by John Berger.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Feb. 2, 2003, page 04, "The art of choosing a child's Hawaiian name," by Rubellite Johnson
Hawaii & Pacific Section of Hawaii State Libray
Hawaii State Public Library System
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