Hawaiian last names provide a great connection to our family’s past. There were no last names among Hawaiian natives at first. It was a requirement for everyone to have one following their first name during Western colonization. This resulted in the conversion of many Hawaiian and Japanese given names into family surnames. There are Hawaiians with English surnames, Japanese surnames, Chinese surnames, and Korean surnames. Names from western languages are translated into Hawaiian last names.
When we think of Hawaii, we see images of people surfing, hibiscus flowers, and white sand beaches. It is reflected in their names that the Hawaiians are deeply connected to the sea, land, and nature. We’ve compiled a list of Hawaiian last names that prove it.
A list of 100 Hawaiian surnames and family names with meanings
Here are some popular Hawaiian last names:
1. Ailana
“Ailana” is used in different cultures to mean different things, but in Hawaiian, it means “loving”.
2. Aka
“Aka” is of Hawaiian origin and means “noble”.
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3. Akamai
As a result, “Akamai” means “smart”, “clever”, or “wise”.
4. Akamu
“From Adam comes the Hawaiian name Akamu, which means “of the earth ”.
5. Akana
Hawaiian last names are very common and mean “bright ”.
6. Akina
“Akina” means bright and autumnal. It is also a popular Japanese last name.
7. Alama
“Alama” is also a commonly used last name; it means “earth and eternity”.
8. Alana
Hence, this name means “arise” or “awakening”.
9. Alika
“Alika” means “the most beautiful”.
10. Alohi
The name “Alohi” means “Shining”.
11. Anela
“Engel” is commonly used in Hawaiian-speaking countries, and its meaning is “angel”.
12. Aukai
“Aukai” is a popular Hawaiian surname, meaning “sailor”.
13. Ele
The meaning of the name is “black”.
14. Etana
This robust name literally means “strong”.
15. Eusebio
The name “Eusebio” means “worship well”.
16. Haku
A poem or song is written in Hawaiian using a word called “Haku.”.
17. Hawea
The name means “peacemaker”.
18. Hale
It is a short and beautiful Hawaiian name that means “home” or “house”.
19. Halia
“Halia” is a Hawaiian name meaning “memorial”.
20. Haoa
“Hooa” is the Hawaiian name for Howard, and it means “exalted protector”, “chief” or “chief guardian”.
21. Haukea
The pretty Hawaiian name “Haukea” means “white snow”, and is derived from the Hawaiian words “hau” and “kea”.
22. Havika
“Hivika” is Hawaiian in origin and means “beloved”.
23. Hekekia
Named after the Hebrew name Hezekiah, this Hawaiian name means “Yahweh strengthens”.
24. Hikialani
In Hawaiian culture, the name means “look up to heaven.”.
25. Ikaika
“Ikaika” is a Japanese name that means “strong”, “powerful”, or “determination”.
26. Illima
The origin of the name “Illima” is a small shrub of the genus Sida
27. Inoa
“Inoa” means “of the virgin Mary”.
28. Inoke
“Tooke” is a Hawaiian surname that means “devoted”.
29. Iokua
In Hawaiian, “Iokua” refers to Joshua, the Hebrew name. The Hebrew name Joshua is composed of two words; “Yahweh” meaning “God” and “sha” meaning “to deliver”. It also means “God is salvation”.
30. Iona
The name has Hawaiian origins and means “a gift from God ”.
31. Ionakana
The name is a modified version of “Iona” and means “a gift from God”.
32. Iosua
Joshua is the Hawaiian version of the name, which means “God is salvation”.
33. Isaia
This is a Hawaiian version of the name “Isaiah” and it means “To deliver to God”.
34. Ka’ana’ana
Ka’ana’ana is believed to have Hawaiian origins, meaning “the black magic”. The name is perfect if you’re looking for a Hawaiian name with a dark meaning.
35. Ka’aukai
It is believed that the Hawaiian name “Ka’aukai” means “the swimmer.”.
36. Kahale
“Kahale” means “the house” in Hawaiian and is a very common name.
37. Kahananui
“Kahananui” means “hard work” and is derived from the Hawaiian words “ka” meaning “the”, “Hana” meaning “work”, and “nui” meaning “big”.
38. Kahele
Kahele is a Hawaiian name that means “to go”.
39. Kahie
The name is of Hawaiian origin and means “superb”.
40. Kahue
It is believed that this name means “the gourd ”.
41. Kai
“Kai” means “sea” in Hawaiian, and it is a beautiful and short last name.
42. Kainoa
The name means “father’s namesake”.
43. Kaiwi
Hawaiian surnames symbolize “life and old age ”.
44. Kalama
The Hawaiian word kalama means “flaming torch” or “the torch.” The name sounds quite powerful.
45. Kalani
This Hawaiian name has multiple meanings but the most popular one is “heaven”.
46. Kalawaia
“Kalawai’a” comes from two Hawaiian words, “ka” meaning “the”, and “Hawai’i” meaning “fisherman”.
47. Kalili
“ Kalili” consists of two words, “ka” meaning “the” and “Lili” meaning “jealousy”.
48. Kalua
“Kalua” means “the companion”.
49. Kama
“With so many origins, the name Kama means both “child” and “person”.
50. Kamealoha
“Kamialoha” means “the beloved one”. It is formed from the Hawaiian words “ka” meaning “the”, “me” meaning “thing”, and “aloha” meaning “love”.
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51. Kane
“Kane” is of Japanese, Welsh, and Hawaiian origin, and its Hawaiian meaning is “man of the eastern sky”.
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52. Kapule
“The Hawaiian word “capsule” refers to “magic” or “prayer”.
53. Ka’uhane
“Ka’uhane” refers to “the spirit” or “the soul”. “Ka” means “the” and “change” means “spirit”.
54. Kawai
‘Kawai’ means “the water”.
55. Keahi
“Keahi” is a Hawaiian name meaning “fire” or “flames”.
56. Keaka
“Keaka” means “God’s gracious gift”.
57. Kealani
As the Hawaiian word “Kealani” implies, the name means “white heaven” or “clear heaven”.
58. Kealoha
The Hawaiian word Kealoha means “love”. “Ke” means “the” and “aloha” means “love” in Hawaiian.
59. Keawe
In Hawaiian, the name has several meanings. An ancient chief is believed to have been given the name “southern cross” after the cross in the southern hemisphere. The other meaning is “the bearer”.
60. Kekoa
“ Kekoa” means “the warrior” in Hawaiian, and it has a powerful-sounding meaning.
61. Keli’i
“Keli’i” comes from Hawaiian, where it means “the chief”.
62. Keona
“Keona” originated in Hawaii and means “sweet fragrance”.
63. Konani
“Konani” is derived from Hawaiian and means “bright”.
64. Lani
This short and sweet Hawaiian name means “heaven”.
65. Lee
This common surname means “shelter from wind given by a neighboring object” in Hawaiian culture.
66. Leilani
“Leilani” means “heavenly flower”.
67. Leimomi
“Leimomi” means pearl child in Hawaiian and is a beautiful option.
68. Leo
This common name means “voice” in Hawaiian.
69. Like ke
“Likeke” is the Hawaiian version of the German name “Richard” and means “powerful” or “brave”.
70. Lilo
According to Hawaiian culture, the name means “generous one ”.
71. Luda
“Luda” means “love of people”.
72. Lui
“A popular Hawaiian name, Lui means “famous warrior”.
73. Mahelona
The name “Mahelona” is the Hawaiian form of the Biblical name “Mahlon” which means “a harp” or “pardon”.
74. Mahoe
The Hawaiian name “Mahoe” means “twins”.
75. Mahi’ai
“Mahi’ai” means “farmer”. The name is also believed to be a variation of the English name “George”.
76. Makaio
The meaning of this popular Hawaiian name is “gift of God ”.
77. Makali
Makali is derived from Hawaiian, and it means “small eyes”.
78. Maliah
“Maliah” is Hawaiian for “rebelliousness”, “sea of bitterness” or “beloved”.
79. Mana
As a Hawaiian name, “Mana” means “spirit”.
80. Manu
In Sanskrit, the name Manu means “bird”.
81. Maui
This short name means “trickster god” in Hawaiian culture.
82. Mililani
“Mililani” means “love from heaven”.
83. Moana
“Montana” means “sea” or “ocean”, and it is believed to be Hawaiian in origin.
84. Nainoa
This brave name means “The one who guards small children”.
85. Nakamura
Hawaiians adopted the name from the Japanese and it means “middle village ”.
86. Nani
This short and sweet name means “beautiful”.
87. Noelani
The charming name “Noelani” means “heavenly mist”.
88. Okalani
The name means “heaven”.
89. Olina
This Hawaiian name means “joyous”.
90. Palakiko
As early as the 1920s, Hawaii had the largest population of “Palakikos ”. It means “Frenchman”.
91. Palapala
“Palapala” means “deed” in Hawaiian.
92. Pele
“Pele” simply means “to peel”.
93. Peleke
The name “Peleke” means “peaceful ruler”.
94. Pualani
“Pualani” comes from Hawaiian and means “royal offspring” or “heavenly flower”.
95. Sophia
This name has Greek origins and means “wisdom”.
96. Ualoheke
This name means “it’s gone” in Hawaiian.
97. Urima
“Urima” means “fruit of the earth”.
98. Wailani
“Wailani” comes from Hawaiian and means “heavenly water”.
99. Wong
The name is of Chinese origin and means “king ”.
100. Zariyah
This name means “God has favored”
Hawaiian family names reflect the beauty of Hawaiian culture. In the list above, you are sure to find a good Hawaiian last name.
FAQs
In Hawaii, the U.S. Postal Service required people to use surnames in 1850. In some families, the children take their father’s given name as their surname. There are also those who use the patronymic for two or three generations before changing the surname again.
It was required that all Hawaiian children be given a Christian, i.e. English, given name. Hawaiian names were transferred to middle names. 1967 was the year when the law was repealed.
In addition to commemorating living people and deceased ones, names were also used to identify significant events or individuals in a family’s history. An ancestral guardian spirit, or aumakua, would give Hawaiian names to members of the newborn’s family in dreams at night.
Janice “Lokelani” has a surname that consists of 35 letters plus an okina, a mark used in the Hawaiian alphabet
