Kauai Names and Places
Hawaiian belongs to the Polynesian family of languages and is related closely to Tahitian, Marquesan and Maori.
There are only twelve letters to the Hawaiian alphabet, courtesy of the Missionaries who phonetically rendered the Hawaiian language. The consonants are h,k,l,m,n,p and w. The consonants are pronounced the same as in English; however, the w is often pronounced as a v.
The State of Hawaii consists of eight major islands: Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe.
The State of Hawaii is made up of five counties: Hawaii County, Honolulu County, Kalawao County, Kauai County and Maui County which includes Maui, Lanai, most of the island of Molokai and the island of Kahoolawe.
All of the Hawaiian Islands have various nicknames:
Niihau – The Forbidden Isle
Kauai – The Garden Isle
Oahu – The Gathering Place
Molokai – The Friendly Isle
Lanai – The Pineapple Island
Kahoolawe – The Target Island
Maui – The Valley Isle
The Island of Hawaii – The Big Island
Most visitors have trouble pronouncing the names of places in Hawaii. That’s ok!
Below is a list of meanings for some of the place names on Kauai.
Kekaha – The Place
Waimea – Reddish Water
Pakala – The Sunshine
Hanapepe – Crushed Bay
Eleele – Black
Kalaheo – Proud Day
Law’i – Village
Koloa – Long Sugarcane
Poipu – Crashing
Mahaulepu – Falling Together
Puhi – Blow
Lihue – Cold Chill
Wailua – Many Waters
Kapaa – The Solids or the Closing
Anahola – Easily Broken
Kilauea – Spewing, much spreading
Hanalei – Crescent Bay
Haena – Red Hot
Hanakapiai – The Sprinkling Food
Kalalau – The Straying
Polihale – House Bosom