Popular & Common Hawaiian Last Names With Meanings

Hawaiians had no surnames until August 24, 1860, when Kamehameha IV signed the Act to Regulate Names. I have hand-picked a list of Hawaiian last names, each with its meaning.

List Of Hawaiian Last Names And Their Meanings:

Haukea

Snow, white.

Hekili

Thunder, pronounced as “heh-KEE-lee”.

Waiwaiʻole

“Worthless,” and it appears in nineteenth-century marriage documents.

Mahelona

Mahelone is a Hawaiian form of Mahlon, a brother in the Book of Ruth. Its meaning is ‘harp’.

ʻAlohi

“Shining” or ”radiant.

Kalama

Torch, from ka and lama. Kalama was also the queen of Kamehameha III.

Pūnohu

dusty, misty

Kukunaokalā

Ray of the sun.

Hōkūlani

It combines hōkū (means ”star”) and lani (”heaven”).

Nāinoa

“Namesakes”. Nāinoa Thompson is president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. He’s also a member of Board of Regents for the University of Hawaiʻi.

Hūʻeu

‘Mischievous’ or playful.

Kalena

“yellow,” a royal color, or “lazy one.” I like the first one a lot more.

Ānuenue

Rainbow.

Kahananui

great work. Or, if you want honesty, hard job.

Kapono

goodness. Basketball player Jason Kapono played for Miami Heat.

Kawai

Kawai is water, and it is symbolizing life and wealth.

Keaka

Shadow or reflection.

Hīnano

Pandanus flower.

Amoe

A form of Amoy, which comes from Cantonese Ah Mooi (younger sister). Save

Līlia

Lily, as a loan word.

Kalanikiʻekiʻe

Kalanikiʻekiʻe is symbolizing ‘royal highness’.,

ʻEwalani

Heavenly woman. ʻEwa is Hawaiian for Eve.

Kiana

It is a form of Diana, meaning divine. Kiana Davenport is author of Song of the Exile and Shark Dialogues.

Kalia

Elaeocarpus bifidus, a native tree.

Kalua

Second one or companion.

Kekaulike

“Equality.” Victoria Kūhiō Kinoiki Kekaulike II was a Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Her sister’s husband became king in 1874.

Maunakea

White mountain. Mauna Kea is a sleeping volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi which last erupted about 4,500 years ago. It is the biggest mountain on Earth as measured from base to top.

Kahele

From ka (the) and hele, to go.

Mālama

Mālama is meaning to take care of and fidelity.

Kalani

Sky or heavens, and a royal chieftain. In ancient Hawaii, anything ending in -lani was for chiefs.

Kalaʻi

‘Peace.’

Kananimauloa

Eternal glory, and a word for strawflower.

Mokihana

Flower of Kauaʻi. Its berries are strung into leis. Save

Leilehua

lehua lei/talented child

Palakiko

It is a variant of Francis, which comes from franc, French for free.

Moani

Fragrant breeze.

Kaʻahumanu

“Feather cloak,” a royal symbol. Kaʻahumanu was the favorite wife of Kamehameha and acted as his de facto successor after his death.

Kanoa

Free one, or a commoner. Paul Kanoa served as governor of Kauaʻi from 1847 to 1877.

Kāpena

Captain, an English loanword. Jonah Kapena was involved with the 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Kahale

‘House’, from ka and hale.

Kekoa

“Soldier,” or the koa tree, used for canoes.

Keone

Sand. In poetry it means homeland.

Kahalewai

“Water house” and also prison.

Kaʻilihiwa

Black skin, from ʻili and hiwa.

Kahalaomāpuana

Pndanus of wafted fragrance. She’s a demigoddess in legend, one of the maile sister.

Lehua

Lehua blossom of Metrosideros polymorpha. Figuratively it means a warrior or an expert.

Kapulani

Chiefly taboo, kapu and lani.

Kawena

Glow. Mary Kawena Pukui (1895-1986) co-wrote the standard Hawaiian Dictionary with Samuel Elbert.

Peleke

Peleke is a variation of Frederick, Germanic for peaceful ruler.

Keliʻi

Chief, a short form of Kealiʻi.

Hina

Gray. Hina is a moon goddess and patron of Molokaʻi.

Iona

Hawaiian form of Jonah, the prophet swallowed by a whale, and Jonah is “dove” in Hebrew.

ʻŌpūnui

‘Big belly.’ In nineteenth-century Hawaii a large stomach was a sign of high rank.

ʻAkamu

A form of Adam, which comes from Hebrew for red earth or mankind.

Kealoha

Kealoha is pronounced keh-ah-LOH-hah and is meaning ‘love’. James Kealoha served as the first lieutenant governor of the State of Hawaii.

Piʻilani

Heavenly ascent. Piʻilani was a chief of Maui. At the time Maui was an independent kingdom.

ʻIolani

Royal hawk. Kamehameha II and Kamehameha IV were known as ʻIolani, and so is a palace in Honolulu.

Iosua

Joshua, from Hebrew Yehoshua, God is salvation.

Healani

Heavenly mist. King Kalākaua’s boathouse was called Healani.

Kealohalani

heavenly love/mercy

Pauahi

“Consumed by fire,” from pau and ahi. Bernice Pauahi Bishop (1831-1884) had it from an aunt who was saved from a fire as a child.

Makalapua

Blossoming forth, and a song for Queen Liliʻuokalani.

Anuhea

Anuhea has a meaning I like: cool fragrance.

Pupuka

“Ugly.” Parents in ancient Hawaii worked to scare off evil spirits. They switched a sick child’s label to something repulsive.

Manu

“Bird”. Manu is also a nickname for Manuel in Romanian and the first man in Hindu tradition.

Kina

China, country. Hawaiians also used it for Dinah and Tina.

Kauʻi

‘Youth’ or beauty.

Māhealani

It is meaning full moon night or heavenly haze. Brook Māhealani Lee was Miss Universe 1997.

Kaʻaihue

“Thief,” found in nineteenth-century marriage documents. Would I put it on a baby? No.

Waipuna

Spring water, and it is symbolizing a sweetheart.

Kawelo

‘Family trait.’ Kawelo a Maihunaliʻi was the supreme monarch of Kauai,

Kanakanui

Big man, from kanaka and nui.

Keanu

Keanu Reeves’ father was born in Hawaii, meaning “cool breeze over the mountains.”

Lea

A goddess of canoe builders.

Kaina

Younger sister of a girl, younger brother of a boy.

Mahiʻai

Farmer. John Mahiʻai Kāneakua was County Clerk of Kauaʻi from 1906 to 1934.

Luda

Jude in Hawaiian, so ‘praised’. It is also Hawaiian for Jewish.

Kamakawiwoʻole

“Fearless eye,” or “bold face.” Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959-1997) was the Bruddah Iz of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and spent summers on Niʻihau with his grandfather. It is made of ka maka (meaning ”eye or face”) and wiwoʻole (”fearless”).

Hāwea

Brought from Tahiti in legend, Hāwea is a sacred drum.

Last Names From Sea And Weather

• Kai – sea
• Kēhau – dew; a land breeze
• Kalaʻiākea – peace spread far; name of a wind
• Mahina – moon, moonlight
• Aolani – heavenly cloud, light of heaven
• ʻEhukai – sea spray
• Kainalu – billowy sea
• Keao – daylight; cloud
• Moana – ocean, open sea
• Kaimana – diamond; a sea filled with mana
• Kalā – sun
• Lilinoe – fine mist; a goddess of mists
• Kōnane – bright moonlight
• Makani – wind; sometimes a sign of anger
• Kekaimālie – calm seas
• Kaʻōpua – puffy clouds
• Waianuhea – misty cool water
• Nālani – heavens
• Pāʻanaakalā – sunshine
• Kalaʻe – clearness
• Kona – leeward; name of a famous wind
• Kaiolohia – calm sea; peace of mind
• Noe – mist, misty rain
• Keʻalohilani – heavenly brightness; a mythical land and a star
• ʻAukai – seafarer
• Makai – seaward
• Kēhaulani – heavenly dew
• Kealani – heavenly whiteness
• Kaʻaumoana – seafarer
• Noelani – mist of heaven
• Puna – spring of water
• Līhau – cool and fresh; a gentle rain, and a Maui mountain
• Wahineʻaukai – seafaring woman
• Keani – soft breeze
• Kawailani – heavenly water
• Kea – white, clear
• Haunani – beautiful snow
• Kaʻena – red-hot glow; a brother of Pele
• Malulani – heavenly shade, protection; also a star name
• Lana – afloat; calm as still waters
• Kaʻohu – mist; adorned with leis
• Waiola – water of life;
• Kalāhikiola – life-bringing sun; a hill and a church on the Big Island

Land And Stone

• Pali – cliff, a symbol of good looks
• Keahi – fire
• Pōhaku – stone; also used for Peter
• Kanahele – forest
• Hanalei – lei bay; a place on Kauaʻi
• Haleakalā – house of the sun; rater of Maui
• Palikapu – sacred cliff
• Uluwehi – lush and beautiful verdure
• Laʻakea – sacred light
• Kulamanu – plain with birds
• Kaiwi – bone
• Kūlani – of heavenly nature; a cone on the Big Island
• Māui – demigod Māui; an island
• Kalehuawehe – opening lehua; a surf spot at Waikīkī

Flowers & Birds

• ʻAwapuhi – wild ginger
• Kahue – gourd
• ʻIlima – flower of Oʻahu, Sida fallax
• Kalili – a native violet, Viola kauaensis
• Lokelani – heavenly rose
• Kamaile – maile vine
• ʻAlani – orange tree, orange fruit
• Melia – plumeria
• Kaliko – bud
• Kiele – gardenia; fragrance
• Leinaʻala – gust of fragrance
• Kawailehua – lehua honey
• Mamo – an extinct black-and-yellow honeycreeper; descendant
• Kapua – flower; the child
• Leimomi – pearl necklace
• Keonaona – soft fragrance
• Leihua – globe amaranth; literally fruit lei
• Puanani – beautiful flower
• Kamila – camellia
• Nāpua – flowers
• Māpuana – fragrance
• Lehuanani – beautiful lehua
• ʻIwalani – heavenly frigatebird; name of an inter-island steamer
• Kanoelehua – lehua flower mist
• Keʻala – fragrance, symbolic of high birth
• Kalikolehua – lehua bud
• Mailelauliʻi – small leaf maile; a demigoddess in legend
• Pualani – heavenly flower
• Puamana – horseweed; child with mana
• ʻIolana – soaring hawk; Hawaiian for Yolanda
• Leimamo – lei of mamo feathers; rare and precious child
• Naiʻa – porpoise
• Kamāla – the garden

Family And Chiefly Names

• Keawe – strand, symbol of lineage; most common name for men in 19th-century marriage records
• Māhoe – twin
• Kaʻiulani – royal sacred one; last Crown Princess of Hawaii
• Kamaka – eye; the beloved one
• Aliʻiloa – distant or high chief
• Kalawaiʻa – fisherman
• Hiapo – first born
• Kanaʻiaupuni – conqueror of the nation; a title of Kamehameha
• Lono – news, remembrance; god of agriculture and fertility
• Kaʻilikea – fair skin
• Kamāliʻi – prince, princess
• Hiʻiaka – a goddess, favorite sister of Pele
• Kāpiʻioho – curly hair; an Oʻahu chief
• Kapiʻolani – heavenly arch, the rainbow; queen of King Kalākaua
• Kaihe – spear
• Kūaliʻi – chief-like; an ancient chief
• Kanaʻi – conqueror
• Līloa – long time ago; an ancient chief
• Kamaʻi – illness
• Kaʻiu – lofty one
• Pahukula – golden casket, after the coffin of Queen Kamāmalu
• Kaleialiʻi – royal child
• Piʻikea – life ascends; a chiefess of Maui
• Kū – upright; the god of war
• Kāne – male; god of creation, one of the 4 great gods
• Kaʻili – skin; the pebble
• Kaleiwohi – high-born child
• Makaokalani – heavenly eyes; royal bud or child
• Kapela – filth
• Ululani – heavenly inspiration; an ancient chiefess
• Kapuni – favorite; borne by legendary kahunas
• Kahula – hula dancer
• Kamakaʻeha – sore eye; childhood name of Queen Liliʻuokalani
• ʻAulani – royal messenger
• Kealiʻiʻaukai – seafaring chief
• Kaʻiminaʻauao – seeker of knowledge; a sister of King Kalākaua who died in childhood
• Hoʻokano – proud
• Poʻokela – outstanding; name of a Maui church
• Mikahala – a ship name turned given name around 1900, from “Mr. Hall”
• Kaʻiupono – leader of the righteous
• Kuʻulani – my king or queen
• Luʻukia – coconut fiber lashing; a woman of legend

Love & Children

• Kealohapauʻole – love never ending
• Akeakamai – yearning for wisdom
• Haʻaheo – cherished with pride
• Kalei – the lei; child
• Hiwahiwa – precious
• Kameāloha – beloved one
• Ikaika – strong
• Hiʻilei – cherished child carried in the arms
• Kaipo – sweetheart
• Kaleikaumaka – child looked upon with love and pride
• Kahanuola – breath of life
• Nohea – handsome, lovely
• Kaʻuhane – soul
• Pōmaikaʻi – good fortune
• Kuʻulei – my lei; my beloved child
• Kahiau – generous
• Leilani – heavenly lei; royal child
• Kaleo – the voice
• Lanakila – victory
• Haliʻa – fond remembrance
• Mikiʻala – alert
• Noʻeau – clever, artistic
• Keola – life
• Uʻilani – heavenly young beauty
• Makana – gift
• Kainoa – namesake
• Hanohano – glorious
• Kaluhi – carefully tended one
• Kaʻimi – seeker; also the Spanish clover
• Pilialoha – beloved companion
• Hauʻoli – happiness
• Kaleinani – beautiful child
• Ipolani – heavenly sweetheart
• Liʻiliʻi – small; used like Junior after a given name
• Kāʻeo – full of knowledge
• Nanea – fascinating
• Kaleolani – heavenly voice
• Makoa – fearless
• Hilinaʻi – trust
• Kaleialoha – Beloved child
• Kuʻualoha – my love
• Pumehana – warm-hearted
• Makamae – precious
• Malina – calming, soothing
• Kawehi – decoration; the song
• Keona – attractive one
• Kaʻimipono – seeker of righteousness
• Honi – to kiss; greeting of touching noses
• Kaleiokalani – child of heaven
• Maluhia – peace
• Hoʻonani – adornment
• Naʻauao – daylight mind; knowledge
• Mālie – calm
• Keikiokaʻāina – child of the land
• Lī – chill
• Kamalei – beloved child
• Kaulana – famous
• Mana – supernatural power
• Nahenahe – soft, gentle
• Makaʻala – eyes wide awake, watchful
• Konapiliahi – strong
• Kanani – beauty, the glory
• Punahele – favorite; literally a spring that goes on
• Hoʻopiʻi – ascent
• Alakaʻi – leader
• Maikaʻi – good
• Keilani – heavenly glory
• ʻAuliʻi – dainty, neat
• Kamalu – shade; the protected one
• Kilohana – superior
• Luana – content, at ease; a fictional princess in the play Bird of Paradise
• Kūlia – striving, fortunate
• Pōhaikealoha – love encircles
• Mililani – caressed of heaven, a favorite; also a town on Oʻahu
• Hiʻilani – held in the arms of heaven
• Kali – hesitation, wait
• Nani – beauty, splendor
• ʻIhilani – sacred one from heaven
• Makanui – big eyes; important, greatly loved
• Kawehionāpua – the adornment of flowers

Bible And English Names

• ʻĀnela – angel; Hawaiian for Angela
• Hekekia – Hezekiah, “God has strengthened”
• Elikapeka – a form of Elizabeth
• Kāwika – a vaariation of David; King Kalākaua’s name in chants
• Maleka – Martha; an old word for America
• Kekepania – a variant of Stephanie
• Likeke – Richard
• Ionakana – Jonathan, from Yehonathan, “Yahweh has given”
• Kini – multitude; king, as a loan word