Hawaiian Words Used in Names, a Glossary
Hawaiian names are built from a small stock of everyday words. Lani, kai, lei, pua, and aloha alone account for hundreds of the 534 names on this site. This glossary defines each building block, shows how to say it, and lists every name that contains it.
How Hawaiian names are put together
Most Hawaiian names are transparent. A speaker hears Leilani and hears two ordinary words, lei (garland) and lani (heaven), in the same way an English speaker hears Rose or Hope. Names stack these words in a few recurring patterns: an article plus a noun (Kalani, the heavens), a noun plus lani (Pualani, heavenly flower), lei plus a noun (Leimomi, pearl lei), or kuʻu plus a noun (Kuʻuipo, my sweetheart). Learn the 5 most common words, lani, lei, kai, pua, wai, and you can read the meaning of most names on sight.
Each entry below follows the Hawaiian Dictionary of Pukui and Elbert and links to the online edition at wehewehe.org so you can check the full definition. The count is the number of names on this site whose word-by-word breakdown contains the word.
Looking for a full Hawaiian dictionary?
This glossary covers the words that names are made of, not the whole language. For every other word, the free online Hawaiian dictionary is wehewehe.org, run by Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. It searches the Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, the Māmaka Kaiao dictionary of modern terms and several older works at once, in both directions.
Two words that are not used in names but are looked up constantly have entries here as well: haole, the word for a foreigner and now a white person, and hapa, meaning part, as in a person of mixed ancestry.
The words, most used first
| Word | Meaning | Say it | Names | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lani | sky, heaven; royal, exalted | LAH-nee | 53 | Heaven |
| lei | garland, wreath; a beloved child | LAY | 18 | Flower |
| kai | sea, seawater | KYE | 12 | Ocean |
| pua | flower, blossom; offspring | POO-ah | 10 | Flower |
| wai | fresh water | WYE | 9 | Water |
| aloha | love, affection, compassion; hello and goodbye | ah-LOH-hah | 8 | Love |
| lā | sun, day | LAH | 6 | Sun |
| nani | beauty, beautiful, glorious | NAH-nee | 6 | Beauty |
| noe | mist, fine rain | NOH-eh | 6 | Rain |
| aliʻi | chief, chiefess, royal | ah-LEE-ee | 5 | Royalty |
| hōkū | star | HOH-koo | 5 | Star |
| kū | to stand, upright; the god Kū | KOO | 5 | Strength |
| lana | floating, buoyant, calm | LAH-nah | 5 | Peace |
| maka | eye, face; beloved | MAH-kah | 5 | Love |
| malu | shade, shelter, protection, peace | MAH-loo | 5 | Peace |
| ola | life, health, well-being | OH-lah | 5 | Life |
| uʻi | youthful, beautiful | OO-ee | 5 | Beauty |
| ao | daylight, dawn, cloud; world | OW | 4 | Light |
| hea | to call, to summon | HEH-ah | 4 | Music |
| ipo | sweetheart, lover | EE-poh | 4 | Love |
| kama | child, person | KAH-mah | 4 | Life |
| kea | white, clear | KEH-ah | 4 | Light |
| koa | brave, warrior; the koa tree | KOH-ah | 4 | Warrior |
| mea | thing, person, one who | MEH-ah | 4 | Earth |
| nui | big, great, important | NOO-ee | 4 | Strength |
| ahi | fire | AH-hee | 3 | Fire |
| ala | path, road; fragrance | AH-lah | 3 | Earth |
| anu | cool, cold | AH-noo | 3 | Wind |
| ehu | spray, mist; reddish | EH-hoo | 3 | Ocean |
| hale | house, home | HAH-leh | 3 | Earth |
| hiʻi | to carry in the arms | HEE-ee | 3 | Love |
| leo | voice, sound, tone | LEH-oh | 3 | Music |
| lua | two, second; pit | LOO-ah | 3 | Earth |
| mālie | calm, quiet, gentle | MAH-lee-eh | 3 | Peace |
| mana | spiritual power, authority | MAH-nah | 3 | Strength |
| momi | pearl | MOH-mee | 3 | Beauty |
| noa | free, released from kapu | NOH-ah | 3 | Freedom |
| piʻo | arch, arched | PEE-oh | 3 | Sky |
| pono | goodness, righteousness, balance | POH-noh | 3 | Wisdom |
| ulu | to grow; breadfruit | OO-loo | 3 | Tree |
| wehi | adornment, ornament | WEH-hee | 3 | Beauty |
| ʻahu | cloak, covering | AH-hoo | 2 | Royalty |
| ʻāina | land, earth; that which feeds | AH-ee-nah | 2 | Earth |
| aka | shadow, reflection; embryo | AH-kah | 2 | Light |
| alaula | dawn light, the glow of sunrise | ah-lah-OO-lah | 2 | Light |
| alohi | to shine, brightness | ah-LOH-hee | 2 | Light |
| ana | cave | AH-nah | 2 | Earth |
| ānuenue | rainbow | ah-noo-eh-NOO-eh | 2 | Sky |
| hana | work, activity; bay | HAH-nah | 2 | Earth |
| hau | the hau tree; cool, dew, snow | HOW | 2 | Rain |
| hekili | thunder | heh-KEE-lee | 2 | Strength |
| hina | gray, silvered; to lean, to fall | HEE-nah | 2 | Moon |
| inoa | name | ee-NOH-ah | 2 | Earth |
| ʻio | Hawaiian hawk | EE-oh | 2 | Bird |
| ʻiwa | frigate bird | EE-vah | 2 | Bird |
| kaʻeo | full, zealous | kah-EH-oh | 2 | Strength |
| kāne | man, male, husband; the god Kāne | KAH-neh | 2 | Mythology |
| kau | to place, to set; season | KOW | 2 | Sun |
| kaulike | equal, fair, just | kow-LEE-keh | 2 | Peace |
| kēhau | dew | KEH-how | 2 | Rain |
| keiki | child, offspring | KAY-kee | 2 | Life |
| kumu | source, foundation, teacher | KOO-moo | 2 | Earth |
| lama | torch, light | LAH-mah | 2 | Light |
| leʻa | joy, pleasure, delight | LEH-ah | 2 | Joy |
| lehua | the ʻōhiʻa lehua blossom | leh-HOO-ah | 2 | Flower |
| liko | leaf bud, new leaf; a child | LEE-koh | 2 | Nature |
| lili | jealousy; fine, delicate | LEE-lee | 2 | Beauty |
| lino | bright, shining; to braid | LEE-noh | 2 | Light |
| loke | rose | LOH-keh | 2 | Flower |
| maikaʻi | good, fine, excellent | my-KAH-ee | 2 | Peace |
| makana | gift, present, reward | mah-KAH-nah | 2 | Gift |
| makani | wind, breeze | mah-KAH-nee | 2 | Wind |
| manu | bird | MAH-noo | 2 | Bird |
| moana | ocean, open sea | moh-AH-nah | 2 | Ocean |
| nalu | wave, surf | NAH-loo | 2 | Ocean |
| nohea | handsome, lovely | noh-HEH-ah | 2 | Beauty |
| ʻohe | bamboo | OH-heh | 2 | Music |
| ʻohu | mist, light cloud | OH-hoo | 2 | Rain |
| onaona | softly fragrant | oh-nah-OH-nah | 2 | Flower |
| pali | cliff, precipice | PAH-lee | 2 | Mountain |
| pili | close, clinging; to belong with | PEE-lee | 2 | Love |
| ua | rain | OO-ah | 2 | Rain |
| ahe | soft breeze | AH-heh | 1 | Wind |
| aho | breath, cord, patience | AH-hoh | 1 | Life |
| ʻai | food, to eat | EYE | 1 | Life |
| ʻailana | island | eye-LAH-nah | 1 | Earth |
| akaka | clear, transparent | ah-KAH-kah | 1 | Light |
| ākea | broad, wide, open | AH-keh-ah | 1 | Earth |
| alakaʻi | to lead, a leader | ah-lah-KAH-ee | 1 | Wisdom |
| ʻalamea | precious, choice | ah-lah-MEH-ah | 1 | Gift |
| ʻalana | offering, awakening | ah-LAH-nah | 1 | Gift |
| ʻanāʻanā | sorcery | ah-NAH-ah-NAH | 1 | Mythology |
| ʻānela | angel | AH-neh-lah | 1 | Biblical |
| ʻanoʻi | desire, beloved | ah-NOH-ee | 1 | Love |
| au | current, era; messenger | OW | 1 | Ocean |
| ʻau | to swim, to travel | OW | 1 | Ocean |
| ʻaukai | seafaring, sailor | ow-KYE | 1 | Ocean |
| auliʻi | neat, dainty, exquisite | ow-LEE-ee | 1 | Beauty |
| ʻawapuhi | wild ginger | ah-vah-POO-hee | 1 | Flower |
| awe | strand, tentacle | AH-veh | 1 | Ocean |
| ʻeleu | energetic, lively | eh-LEH-oo | 1 | Strength |
| ʻena | red-hot, glowing | EH-nah | 1 | Fire |
| haʻaheo | proud, cherished | hah-ah-HEH-oh | 1 | Royalty |
| hainā | cruel, merciless | hye-NAH | 1 | Fire |
| haku | lord, master; to braid | HAH-koo | 1 | Royalty |
| hāliʻa | sudden remembrance | hah-LEE-ah | 1 | Love |
| hanohano | honoured, glorious | hah-noh-HAH-noh | 1 | Royalty |
| hanu | breath, to breathe | HAH-noo | 1 | Life |
| hauʻoli | happiness, joy | how-OH-lee | 1 | Joy |
| hāweo | to glow, to shine | HAH-veh-oh | 1 | Light |
| hele | to go, to travel | HEH-leh | 1 | Life |
| hiapo | firstborn, eldest | hee-AH-poh | 1 | Life |
| hiʻena | blazing, flaming | hee-EH-nah | 1 | Fire |
| hiki | to arrive, to be able | HEE-kee | 1 | Life |
| hilinaʻi | to trust, to lean on | hee-lee-NAH-ee | 1 | Love |
| hilo | first night of the new moon; to twist | HEE-loh | 1 | Moon |
| hīnano | pandanus blossom | hee-NAH-noh | 1 | Flower |
| hiwa | choice, prized, esteemed | HEE-vah | 1 | Gift |
| honu | sea turtle | HOH-noo | 1 | Ocean |
| hoʻoilo | winter, the wet season | hoh-oh-EE-loh | 1 | Rain |
| hoʻokipa | hospitality | hoh-oh-KEE-pah | 1 | Love |
| hua | fruit, egg, offspring | HOO-ah | 1 | Life |
| hue | gourd | HOO-eh | 1 | Nature |
| hulali | glittering, sparkling | hoo-LAH-lee | 1 | Light |
| ihi | sacred, majestic | EE-hee | 1 | Royalty |
| ʻiʻiwi | scarlet honeycreeper | ee-EE-vee | 1 | Bird |
| ikaika | strong, powerful | ee-KYE-kah | 1 | Strength |
| ʻili | skin; a land division | EE-lee | 1 | Earth |
| ilihia | struck with awe | ee-lee-HEE-ah | 1 | Wisdom |
| ʻilima | ʻilima flower | ee-LEE-mah | 1 | Flower |
| ʻimi | to seek, to search | EE-mee | 1 | Wisdom |
| ʻiu | sacred, lofty | EE-oo | 1 | Royalty |
| iwi | bone; lineage | EE-vee | 1 | Earth |
| kahakai | shore, beach | kah-hah-KYE | 1 | Ocean |
| kahiau | to give generously | kah-hee-OW | 1 | Gift |
| kāhili | royal feather standard | kah-HEE-lee | 1 | Royalty |
| kāholo | to move quickly | kah-HOH-loh | 1 | Life |
| kahua | foundation, site | kah-HOO-ah | 1 | Earth |
| kaiāulu | community; a Waiʻanae trade wind | kye-AH-oo-loo | 1 | Wind |
| kaila | style, manner | KYE-lah | 1 | Beauty |
| kalia | a native tree | kah-LEE-ah | 1 | Tree |
| kamila | camellia | kah-MEE-lah | 1 | Flower |
| kapa | border, edge; bark cloth | KAH-pah | 1 | Earth |
| kāpena | captain | kah-PEH-nah | 1 | Ocean |
| kaua | war, battle | KOW-ah | 1 | Warrior |
| kaulana | famous, celebrated | kow-LAH-nah | 1 | Royalty |
| kaunaʻoa | a native dodder vine | kow-nah-OH-ah | 1 | Flower |
| kei | glory, pride, dignity | KAY | 1 | Royalty |
| kekona | second | keh-KOH-nah | 1 | Earth |
| kenikeni | ten cents, a dime | keh-nee-KEH-nee | 1 | Earth |
| kiele | gardenia | kee-EH-leh | 1 | Flower |
| kiha | moʻo, dragon-lizard | KEE-hah | 1 | Mythology |
| kīhei | shawl, cape | KEE-hay | 1 | Earth |
| kila | strong, high, firm | KEE-lah | 1 | Strength |
| kilakila | majestic, imposing | kee-lah-KEE-lah | 1 | Strength |
| kīlauea | spewing, much spreading | kee-low-EH-ah | 1 | Fire |
| kilinahe | a light, gentle rain | kee-lee-NAH-heh | 1 | Rain |
| kilohana | the best, superior | kee-loh-HAH-nah | 1 | Wisdom |
| kini | multitude, forty thousand | KEE-nee | 1 | Earth |
| kipi | to rebel, a rebel | KEE-pee | 1 | Warrior |
| koholā | humpback whale | koh-hoh-LAH | 1 | Ocean |
| kolo | to creep, to crawl | KOH-loh | 1 | Nature |
| kona | leeward, the dry side | KOH-nah | 1 | Wind |
| kōnane | bright as moonlight | koh-NAH-neh | 1 | Moon |
| kui | to string, to join | KOO-ee | 1 | Flower |
| kukui | candlenut tree; light | koo-KOO-ee | 1 | Light |
| kūʻokoʻa | independence, freedom | koo-oh-koh-AH | 1 | Freedom |
| laʻa | sacred, dedicated | LAH-ah | 1 | Royalty |
| lāʻau | plant, tree, medicine | LAH-ow | 1 | Tree |
| laʻe | clear, calm, serene | LAH-eh | 1 | Peace |
| laʻi | calm, stillness, peace | LAH-ee | 1 | Peace |
| laka | tame, gentle, attracted | LAH-kah | 1 | Gentle |
| lālani | row, rank, line | lah-LAH-nee | 1 | Earth |
| lanakila | victory, to triumph | lah-nah-KEE-lah | 1 | Warrior |
| lauaʻe | a fragrant fern | lau-AH-eh | 1 | Flower |
| laulea | contented, peaceful | lau-LEH-ah | 1 | Joy |
| lawaiʻa | fisherman, to fish | lah-vye-AH | 1 | Ocean |
| lele | to fly, to leap | LEH-leh | 1 | Freedom |
| lena | yellow; the light of dawn | LEH-nah | 1 | Light |
| lihau | cool, gentle rain | LEE-how | 1 | Rain |
| liho | to glow | LEE-hoh | 1 | Light |
| lilia | lily | lee-LEE-ah | 1 | Flower |
| liliʻu | smarting, burning | lee-LEE-oo | 1 | Fire |
| lilo | to become, to be lost | LEE-loh | 1 | Gift |
| loea | skill, expertise | loh-EH-ah | 1 | Wisdom |
| lōkahi | unity, harmony | loh-KAH-hee | 1 | Peace |
| loko | inside, inner self; pond | LOH-koh | 1 | Water |
| luana | to be at leisure | loo-AH-nah | 1 | Peace |
| lulu | calm, shelter | LOO-loo | 1 | Peace |
| mahi | to cultivate, to farm | MAH-hee | 1 | Earth |
| mahiʻai | farmer, to farm | mah-hee-EYE | 1 | Earth |
| mahina | moon, month | mah-HEE-nah | 1 | Moon |
| māhoe | twin | MAH-hoh-eh | 1 | Life |
| maile | maile vine | MY-leh | 1 | Tree |
| mākaha | fierce; a sluice gate | MAH-kah-hah | 1 | Warrior |
| mākala | to loosen, to release | MAH-kah-lah | 1 | Freedom |
| makamae | precious, treasure | mah-kah-MAH-eh | 1 | Gift |
| mākena | abundance; mourning | mah-KEH-nah | 1 | Gift |
| makoa | fearless, brave | mah-KOH-ah | 1 | Warrior |
| mala | garden, cultivated patch | MAH-lah | 1 | Earth |
| mālana | buoyant, floating | MAH-lah-nah | 1 | Ocean |
| māmalu | shelter, shade, protection | MAH-mah-loo | 1 | Peace |
| manaʻo | thought, idea, opinion | mah-NAH-oh | 1 | Wisdom |
| manō | shark | mah-NOH | 1 | Ocean |
| mānoa | thick, vast, deep | MAH-noh-ah | 1 | Earth |
| māpuana | wafted fragrance | mah-poo-AH-nah | 1 | Flower |
| mehameha | lonely, solitary | meh-hah-MEH-hah | 1 | Peace |
| mele | song, chant, poem | MEH-leh | 1 | Music |
| meli | honey | MEH-lee | 1 | Nature |
| melia | plumeria | meh-LEE-ah | 1 | Flower |
| miki | quick, energetic | MEE-kee | 1 | Strength |
| mili | to caress, to handle gently | MEE-lee | 1 | Love |
| moani | fragrant breeze | moh-AH-nee | 1 | Wind |
| mohala | to bloom, to unfold | moh-HAH-lah | 1 | Flower |
| mokihana | a fragrant native berry | moh-kee-HAH-nah | 1 | Flower |
| moku | island, district; ship | MOH-koo | 1 | Earth |
| moʻo | lizard; lineage; story | MOH-oh | 1 | Mythology |
| naʻala | fragrance | nah-AH-lah | 1 | Flower |
| naʻau | gut; mind, heart | NAH-ow | 1 | Wisdom |
| naʻi | to conquer, to strive | NAH-ee | 1 | Warrior |
| naiʻa | dolphin | NYE-ah | 1 | Ocean |
| nanea | relaxed, absorbed | nah-NEH-ah | 1 | Peace |
| naupaka | a native shrub | now-PAH-kah | 1 | Flower |
| nēnē | Hawaiian goose | NEH-neh | 1 | Bird |
| nuʻu | height, high place | NOO-oo | 1 | Mountain |
| ʻole | without, lacking | OH-leh | 1 | Earth |
| ʻoliana | oleander | oh-lee-AH-nah | 1 | Flower |
| ʻoliʻoli | joy, gladness | oh-lee-OH-lee | 1 | Joy |
| ona | attractive, charming | OH-nah | 1 | Beauty |
| one | sand | OH-neh | 1 | Earth |
| ʻōnohi | eyeball, centre | oh-NOH-hee | 1 | Light |
| ōpū | cluster, clump | OH-poo | 1 | Nature |
| ʻōpū | belly; cluster | OH-poo | 1 | Life |
| paʻa | firm, solid, held fast | PAH-ah | 1 | Strength |
| paʻahana | hardworking, busy | pah-ah-HAH-nah | 1 | Strength |
| palapala | writing, document | pah-lah-PAH-lah | 1 | Wisdom |
| palila | a native honeycreeper | pah-LEE-lah | 1 | Bird |
| pau | finished, completed | POW | 1 | Earth |
| pele | lava, volcano; the goddess | PEH-leh | 1 | Fire |
| piʻi | to climb, to rise | PEE-ee | 1 | Mountain |
| pīkake | Arabian jasmine | pee-KAH-keh | 1 | Flower |
| pō | night, darkness | POH | 1 | Moon |
| poli | bosom, heart | POH-lee | 1 | Love |
| pōmaikaʻi | blessed, fortunate | poh-my-KAH-ee | 1 | Gift |
| pueo | Hawaiian short-eared owl | poo-EH-oh | 1 | Bird |
| pule | prayer | POO-leh | 1 | Peace |
| puna | spring of water; coral | POO-nah | 1 | Water |
| punahele | favourite | poo-nah-HEH-leh | 1 | Love |
| ʻuhane | soul, spirit | oo-HAH-neh | 1 | Wisdom |
| uhi | to cover, a covering | OO-hee | 1 | Earth |
| uila | lightning, electricity | oo-EE-lah | 1 | Light |
| ulani | cheerful, heavenly inspiration | oo-LAH-nee | 1 | Joy |
| ʻumi | ten | OO-mee | 1 | Earth |
| ʻupena | fishing net | oo-PEH-nah | 1 | Ocean |
| wanaʻao | dawn | vah-nah-AH-oh | 1 | Light |
| wela | hot, heat | VEH-lah | 1 | Fire |
| wena | glow, reddish tinge | VEH-nah | 1 | Light |
| akahai | kindness, gentleness, modesty | ah-kah-HAI | 0 | Peace |
| haole | foreigner, foreign; now usually a white person | HOW-leh | 0 | |
| hapa | part, portion, fragment; of mixed ancestry | HAH-pah | 0 | |
| hoa | companion, friend | HOH-ah | 0 | Love |
| hono | bay; to join | HOH-noh | 0 | Ocean |
| kula | gold; plain, open country | KOO-lah | 0 | Earth |
| lau | leaf; many | LOW | 0 | Nature |
| maluhia | peace, serenity | mah-loo-HEE-ah | 0 | Peace |
| mauna | mountain | MOW-nah | 0 | Mountain |
| nahele | forest, wilderness | nah-HEH-leh | 0 | Nature |
| ʻohana | family, kin | oh-HAH-nah | 0 | Love |
| pōhaku | rock, stone | POH-hah-koo | 0 | Earth |