Hawaiian Cat Names
Hawaiian names for cats, each with its meaning and how to say it. Names for every color of coat, for cats that sleep all day and cats that knock things off shelves, and the Hawaiian word for cat itself.
Female Hawaiian cat names
Kona
leeward, the sunny side of the island
Haupia
coconut pudding
Lilikoʻi
passion fruit
Moana
ocean
Lilo
generous one
Pua
flower
Lei
garland
Momi
pearl
Nani
beautiful
Meli
honey
Hōkū
star
Noe
mist
Leilani
heavenly lei
Malia
calm, Hawaiian form of Mary
Kailani
sea and sky
Lani
heaven, sky
Mahina
moon
Hina
goddess of the moon
Loke
rose
Melia
plumeria
Maile
the maile vine
Lehua
the ʻōhiʻa blossom
Kiele
gardenia
Pīkake
jasmine
Anela
angel
Wehi
adornment
Ānuenue
rainbow
Pele
the volcano goddess
ʻIʻiwi
the scarlet honeycreeper
Ipo
sweetheart
Kuʻuipo
my sweetheart
Mālie
calm
Makamae
precious
Aloha
love
Male Hawaiian cat names
Koa
brave, the koa hardwood tree
Kona
leeward, the sunny side of the island
Nalu
wave, surf
Kai
sea
Manō
shark
Moku
island
Kimo
Hawaiian form of James
Kahuna
expert, priest
Aliʻi
chief, royal
Kukui
candlenut tree, light
Kāne
man, god of creation
Lono
god of rain and harvest
Kū
god of war, to stand
Māui
the demigod who snared the sun
Kaipo
the sweetheart
Hilo
new moon, a town on Hawaiʻi Island
Kahili
royal feather standard
Keanu
the cool breeze
Noa
free
Names by coat color
Kula
gold
ʻIʻiwi
the scarlet honeycreeper
Pō
night
ʻEleʻele
black
Keʻokeʻo
white
ʻĀhinahina
gray, silvery
Kea
white, clear
ʻUla
red
Melemele
yellow
Uli
dark blue, deep
Names for night prowlers
Pueo
the Hawaiian owl
Pō
night
Names for cats who sleep all day
Nanea
relaxed, at ease
Moe
to sleep
Hiamoe
asleep
Laʻi
calm, serene
Mālie
calm
Names for kittens and small cats
Poi
the taro paste eaten with every Hawaiian meal
Ono
delicious
Haupia
coconut pudding
Niu
coconut
Honu
green sea turtle
Puna
spring of water
Liko
leaf bud
Lilo
generous one
Pua
flower
Lei
garland
Momi
pearl
Nani
beautiful
Iki
small, little
Keiki
child
Meli
honey
Noe
mist
Ahe
soft breeze
Ao
daylight, cloud
Ua
rain
Manu
bird
Ipo
sweetheart
Punahele
favorite
Kaipo
the sweetheart
ʻEleu
lively, quick
Lele
to fly, to leap
Wiki
quick
Aloha
love
Noa
free
Playful names
Pōpoki
cat
Moe
to sleep
Hiamoe
asleep
ʻEleu
lively, quick
Lele
to fly, to leap
Kolohe
mischievous, rascal
Pilikia
trouble
Wiki
quick
Sky and weather names
Hōkū
star
Noe
mist
Ahe
soft breeze
Lani
heaven, sky
Mahina
moon
Hina
goddess of the moon
Lā
sun
Ao
daylight, cloud
Uila
lightning
Ānuenue
rainbow
Ua
rain
Hilo
new moon, a town on Hawaiʻi Island
Keanu
the cool breeze
Choosing a Hawaiian name for your cat
Cats arrived in Hawaiʻi on European ships in the late 1700s, and the Hawaiian word for them, pōpoki, is usually explained as an imitation of sailors calling “poor pussy.” Whatever its origin, it is a charming name in itself. The Hawaiian names that suit cats best are the quiet ones: the moon and stars (Mahina, Hōkū), mist and night (Noe, Pō), colors (Kula for gold, Kea for white, ʻEleʻele for black), and words for rest (Nanea, Laʻi, Moe).
Say every vowel and stress the second-to-last syllable. Mahina is mah-HEE-nah, Pueo is poo-EH-oh, Nanea is nah-NEH-ah. The macron in Pō and Hōkū lengthens the vowel. The pronunciation guide has the rest.
Meanings that fit a cat
A black cat is Pō (night) or ʻEleʻele (black). A gray cat is ʻĀhinahina, the silvery color of the native silversword plant, or simply Hina, the moon goddess. A white cat is Kea or Keʻokeʻo. An orange cat is ʻUla (red) or Kula (gold), and a hunter is Pueo, the Hawaiian owl that watches from the dark. For a cat who does nothing but sleep, Moe means exactly that. For one who breaks things, Kolohe (rascal) and Pilikia (trouble) are what people in Hawaiʻi actually say.
Names to use with care
Pele is the volcano goddess and the most popular Hawaiian cat name for a fiery orange or tortoiseshell cat. It is widely used, but she is a living figure in Hawaiian belief, so some families prefer to avoid it. Kāne, Kū, Lono, and Kanaloa are the four great gods and carry the same weight. Color, sky, and rest names carry none.