Rare & Powerful Hawaiian Boy Names That Start With K

Hawaiian only use thirteen letters, and K does a lot of the work. Ka and ke mean “the,” so many boy names open with one of them. This is a list of Hawaiian boy names that start with K, each with its meaning.

List Of Hawaiian Boy Names That Start With K And Their Meanings:

Kekoa

From ke and koa, “warrior.” Koa is also a tree, and its wood is used for racing canoes. Prior to the 1800’s, it grew in vast forests on the Island of Maui and Hawaii.

Kahekili

“Thunder.” Kahekili II ruled Maui (1737-1794) and tattooed one side of his body black. He copied Kāne-Hekili, a thunder god who is depicted dark on one half. Kahekili Highway (signed as Highway 340) on West Maui is his today.

Kaika

Craig, from Gaelic creag, ‘rock’.

Kalanikūpule

Son of Kahekili, with a meaning of “heavenly prayer of Kū”. In 1795 he lost Oʻahu to Kamehameha at Nuʻuanu.

Kale

Charles: ‘free man’. In English it is a leafy green, so expect several salad jokes at school.

Kauʻi

‘Youthful one’.

Kenike

Dennis comes from Dionysius, “of Dionysus.” Saint Denis was the first bishop of Paris and was beheaded on Montmartre.

Kelewina

Kelvin, from a Glasgow river. Lord Kelvin’s name comes from that river, as well as kelvin, a unit of temperature. In daily life, people are more familiar with Fahrenheit and Celsius scales.

Kalanaka

From Grant, which comes from Norman French grand, large.

Kainalu

A sea that billows, kai with nalu (wave). Kainalu is also a land section on Molokaʻi.

Kilika

Chris, Hawaiianized: follower of Christ.

Kuke

Duke, “leader.” Duke Kahanamoku (1890-1968) won swimming gold at the Stockholm Olympics. He was also elected to serve as the Sheriff of Honolulu.

Kalawina

Darwin, from Anglo-Saxon deore and wine: dear friend. Charles Darwin was an English naturalist. His theories brought him into conflict with members of the Church of England.

Kanoa

“The free one”.

Kū

“To stand.” He’s the god of war in Hawaiian religion.

Kaimana

‘Power of the sea’ or “diamond,” a loan from English.

Kelome

Jerome, from Greek for ‘sacred name.’ Saint Jerome translated the Bible into Latin.

Kalika

Garrick, “spear ruler.” David Garrick was the star actor of 1700s London.

Keoni

John: “Yahweh is gracious.” Keoni Ana was the son of John Young and served as kuhina nui, almost like a premier.

Kaulana

Famous.

Kumu

teacher/source. A kumu hula is a hula master who trains dancers for years.. Save

Kawehi

Kawehi is pronounced ka-WEH-hee and is meaning ‘the adornment’.

Kamehameha

“Lonely one.” In 1810 King Kamehameha I brought the islands under one kingdom.

Kahuna

Priest, expert. That’s where big kahuna comes from.

Keneka

Kent: ‘coastal district’, a county in England.

Kūpono

Upright and honest. In geometry class, kaha kūpono is a perpendicular line.

Kei

Jay, as in the bird.

Kimo

James, which goes to Jacob: ‘holder of the heel’.

Kamona

Damon (“to tame”) offered his life as bail for his friend Pythias in Greek legend..

Kapono

Kapono is “good one.” Jason Kapono won the NBA three-point contest twice in a row.

Kaʻimi

‘Seeker.’ It is pronounced kah-EE-mee, and is also spelled Kaimi.

Kolohe

Rascal. A nickname, maybe, more than a first name? Save

Keanu

“The cool breeze.” Keanu Reeves (1964-) said he doesn’t believe William Shakespeare wrote his works. His father was a Hawaiian geologist.

Kelala

Gerald, rule of the spear.

Kamuela

Samuel, “God has heard.” Kamuela is a second name for Waimea town on Hawaiʻi Island, after postmaster Samuel Spencer.

Kuane

Duane, from Gaelic dubh: dark.

Kāne

“Man,” or “husband.” Kāne was the creator god represented the god of procreation.

Kahoku

Kahoku is meaning “star”.

Kōnane

“Bright moonlight,” and kōnane, a board game of pebbles on a stone grid.

Keoki

Keoki (kee-OH-kee): George, earthworker, farmer.

Kaulike

Kaulike is symbolizing balance and fairness.

Kelemi

Jeremy comes from Jeremiah: ‘Yahweh has uplifted’.

Kuliano

Julian, from Julius, ‘downy-bearded’.

Kile

Giles, ‘young goat’ in Greek. Edinburgh’s high kirk is St Giles’.

Kalākaua

Day of battle. He was the Merrie Monarch, a patron of hula and Hawaiian music.

Kaleo

“Voice.” In 2025 it reached number eight hundred ninety-seven in US charts.

Kamaka

Kamaka is meaning “the eye” or the face.

Kalinakona

Clinton: a settlement on River Glyme.

Kalehua

Lehua, red blossom of ʻōhiʻa. Lehua is also a word for skilled fighter.

Keleko

Greg, short for Gregory: watchful.

Keneke

Kenneth: “handsome,” or “born of fire.” Kenneth MacAlpin was first king of the Scots.

Kaluka

Claude, from Latin claudus, lame.

Kamakani

Kamakani (ka-ma-KA-nee): “wind,” and I love how it ends on a breath.

Koukalaka

Douglas, “dark river.” Douglas fir is called after botanist David Douglas.

Kimokeo

Timothy, from Greek: to esteem God. Kamuela Kimokeo won Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards.

Kūpaʻa

Kūpaʻa is symbolizing steadfast loyalty.

Kulo

Cyrus, far-sighted. Cyrus the Great founded Persian empire.

Kawika

Kawika is pronounced kah-WEE-kah, for David and is meaning beloved.

Names From Sea and Land

• Kehau – dew
• Kōlea – Pacific golden plover; a shorebird that winters in Hawaiʻi and nests in Alaska
• Kalo – Hawaiian for “taro”
• Kawena – the glow; a rosy sky
• Kai – sea
• Kaiholo – running sea; a moving current
• Kahawai – river, stream
• Kuahiwi – mountain, high hill
• Kaleho – cowry shell
• Kapueo – owl
• Keahi – fire
• Kalani – the heavens; sky, royalty, majesty
• Kealohi – shining one
• Kamalu – shade, calm
• Kawai – the water
• Koalani – heavenly koa tree
• Kailoa – long sea
• Kapua – flower, the child
• Kalei – the lei; the child
• Kahanu – breath
• Kalama – torch

Place Names

• Kailua – two seas
• Kona – leeward; dry west side of Hawaiʻi Island
• Kalihi – edge
• Kāpalama – enclosure of lama wood
• Kaupō – landing of canoes at night
• Kualoa – long back
• Kaʻaʻawa – wrasse fish
• Kahului – winning; port town on Maui
• Kalaeloa – Hawaiian for “long point”
• Kapaʻa – solid; closing
• Kaimukī – the ti oven
• Kakaʻako – to chop or beat thatching

Chiefs and Daily Words

• Kealiʻi – tchief
• Kauikeaouli – placed in the dark clouds; birth name of Kamehameha III
• Kamahaʻo – wondrous
• Kahili – feather standard on a tall pole; emblem of a chief
• Kahiau – generous giving with no thought of return
• Kapena – Hawaiian for “captain”
• Keola – life, health
• Kaipo – sweetheart
• Kaua – war, battle
• Kainoa – the name
• Koʻolau – windward; nickname of Kaluaikoʻolau, a Kauaʻi cowboy who hid from soldiers in 1893
• Kāʻeo – full of knowledge
• Kanaloa – god of the sea. He was pictured as a squid or an octopus.
• Kaholo – to run; a sideways step in hula
• Kahoni – Hawaiian for “kiss”
• Kiaʻi – guard, watchman
• Kealoha – loved one
• Kamakana – gift
• Keala – the path
• Kalino – bright, brilliant
• Kilohana – best, superior
• Kalepa – trader, merchant
• Kaikane – man of the sea
• Keone – homeland; sand
• Kapuni – favorite one
• Kamalani – heavenly child; royal child
• Kahua – foundation, base
• Kahale – the house

Hawaiian Forms of English and from Bible

• Kaniela – God is my judge; Hawaiian form of Daniel
• Kalaka – clerk, scribe
• Kaila – valley; narrow strait
• Kolekona – spacious fort; from Gordon
• Kunakana – Hawaiian form of Duncan
• Kepano – crown
• Kali – spear
• Kalaila – Clyde, after a Scottish river
• Kekela – fortress; dyer
• Kilipaki – bright pledge
• Kenekika – high summit; royal power
• Kika – wood; from Keith
• Kalipona – ford by a cliff
• Kailola – dandy; from Gaylord
• Konala – world ruler
• Kukali – Dudda’s clearing; Dudley in island spelling
• Kelena – valley
• Kulika – courteous
• Kepeli – Hawaiian form of Jeffrey
• Kenana – little ancient one
• Kalalena – Clarence, a ducal title from Clare in Suffolk
• Kalikona – clay town
• Kokapeli – Hawaiian form of Godfrey