Hawaii’s rich culture and history can be felt not only at specific locations, but also in the names of those locations. For example, many streets in Hawaii are named after a famous warrior or significant person in Hawaii’s history. Other streets carry just a simple Hawaiian word in their name, and some street names even have surprising translations. Here is a small sample of Hawaii’s variety of street names:

‘A‘ahu (Miilani) – clothing
Ahaiki (Pearl City) – small private gathering
Ahekai (Waianae) – ocean breeze
Ahi (Honolulu) – fire
Alikao (Honolulu) – fireworks
Ahonui (Honolulu) – suffering for long time
Aimama Pl (Pearl City) – snack
Aka (Kaneohe) – laughing
Aka‘ula (Kapolei) – red sunset
Ala Lani (Honolulu) – road to the heaven
Ala‘Ohi (Honolulu) – happy road
Aliana (Honolulu) – let me see
Anu (Kaneohe) – cold
Anuenue (Honolulu) – rainbow
‘Apela (Aiea) – old
Beretania (Honolulu) – Great Britain – the street got its name because the British Council Office was located there in the 1860s)
Eha (Ewa Beach) – the number four
‘Epukane (Honolulu) – husband
Hanakealoha (Honolulu) – to make love
Hanalulu (Waimanalo) – protected bay
Kaheka (Honolulu) – sea pool
Kahuna (Honolulu) – priest, shaman
Kaiko‘o (Honolulu) – rough sea
Kamaehu (Ewa Beach) – energy, power, strength
Limakokua (Waianae) – helping hand
Loke (Honolulu) – rose
Luapele (Honolulu) – volcanic crater
Lumi (Waipahu) – room
Makana (Haleiwa) – gift, reward
Mano (Waianae) – shark
Mauna (Honolulu) – mountain
Mehue (Miilani) – footprint
Mokulele (Kaneohe) – airplane
Napali (Honolulu) – cliffs
Niho (Waialua) – tooth
Olomana (Honolulu) – forked hill
Onohi (Honolulu) – eyebowl
Paniolo (Honolulu) – cowboy
‘Ulu (Aiea) – breadfruit
Wahine (Honolulu) – woman