Hawaiian Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you curious about the fascinating world of Hawaiian last names? This guide dives deep into the rich history and cultural significance of these unique surnames. From traditional Hawaiian names with deep roots in the islands' mythology and language to names adopted by early settlers, this comprehensive list explores the meaning and origins of last names commonly found in Hawaii.
1. **Akana:** Meaning "place of the cane" or "cane field."
2. **Alama:** Meaning "torch" or "firebrand."
3. **Alipio:** A Spanish surname meaning "helper" or "ally."
4. **Aluli:** Meaning "ocean current" or "tide."
5. **Amona:** Meaning "cloud" or "mist."
6. **Anzai:** A Japanese surname meaning "safe island."
7. **Arakaki:** Meaning "place of the red earth."
8. **Asam:** Meaning "morning" or "dawn."
9. **Au:** Meaning "to own" or "to possess."
10. **Aukea:** Meaning "to open" or "to expand."
11. **Awai:** Meaning "to call out" or "to shout."
12. **Botelho:** A Portuguese surname meaning "small barrel."
13. **Cabrera:** A Spanish surname meaning "goat herd."
14. **Caldeira:** A Portuguese surname meaning "cauldron."
15. **Camacho:** A Spanish surname meaning "a type of garment."
16. **Carvalho:** A Portuguese surname meaning "oak tree."
17. **Castillo:** A Spanish surname meaning "castle."
18. **Chong:** A Chinese surname meaning "heavy."
19. **Costa:** A Portuguese surname meaning "coast."
20. **DeLima:** A Portuguese surname meaning "from Lima."
21. **DeSilva:** A Portuguese surname meaning "from the forest."
22. **Domingo:** A Spanish surname meaning "Sunday."
23. **Eto:** A Japanese surname meaning "willow tree."
24. **Fernandez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Fernando."
25. **Flores:** A Spanish surname meaning "flowers."
26. **Franco:** A Spanish surname meaning "free."
27. **Fujimoto:** A Japanese surname meaning "wisteria tree base."
28. **Gonsalves:** A Portuguese surname meaning "son of Gonçalo."
29. **Harada:** A Japanese surname meaning "level field."
30. **Hawaii:** Meaning "home of the gods."
31. **Healy:** An Irish surname meaning "bright."
32. **Henriques:** A Portuguese surname meaning "son of Henry."
33. **Higa:** A Japanese surname meaning "sun."
34. **Hiraoka:** A Japanese surname meaning "level mountain."
35. **Holomua:** Meaning "to be in a state of readiness."
36. **Imaeda:** A Japanese surname meaning "present field."
37. **Iokepa:** Meaning "to be strong."
38. **Ishihara:** A Japanese surname meaning "stone field."
39. **Ito:** A Japanese surname meaning "thread."
40. **Kaaihue:** Meaning "to be pleased" or "to be satisfied."
41. **Kaahanui:** Meaning "big chief" or "great leader."
42. **Kaauwai:** Meaning "young chief" or "young leader."
43. **Kahanamoku:** Meaning "brave in the waves."
44. **Kahale:** Meaning "to be proud" or "to boast."
45. **Kahaluu:** Meaning "sea of calm" or "peaceful water."
46. **Kahana:** Meaning "a beach" or "a bay."
47. **Kainoa:** Meaning "a place of good food."
48. **Kalei:** Meaning "a beautiful person."
49. **Kamaka:** Meaning "the first" or "the original."
50. **Kamakau:** Meaning "to love" or "to cherish."
51. **Kamoku:** Meaning "to be brave."
52. **Kaneko:** A Japanese surname meaning "gold child."
53. **Kanoho:** Meaning "a place of abundance."
54. **Kapu:** Meaning "a sacred thing" or "a taboo."
55. **Kawahara:** A Japanese surname meaning "river field."
56. **Kawamoto:** A Japanese surname meaning "river base."
57. **Kealoha:** Meaning "beloved" or "dear."
58. **Kekaulike:** Meaning "like a rainbow."
59. **Kekoa:** Meaning "brave" or "courageous."
60. **Kekoolani:** Meaning "heavenly" or "divine."
61. **Keleni:** Meaning "to be gentle" or "to be soft."
62. **Kila:** Meaning "the sun" or "the moon."
63. **Kimo:** Meaning "to be loyal" or "to be faithful."
64. **Kinoshita:** A Japanese surname meaning "underneath the tree."
65. **Kishimoto:** A Japanese surname meaning "island base."
66. **Koa:** Meaning "warrior" or "fighter."
67. **Koki:** Meaning "to love" or "to cherish."
68. **Koloa:** Meaning "a place of sweet water."
69. **Kualii:** Meaning "to be powerful."
70. **Kuia:** Meaning "a respected woman" or "an elder."
71. **Kulani:** Meaning "a high place" or "a mountain."
72. **Kumu:** Meaning "a teacher" or "a mentor."
73. **Kupaa:** Meaning "to be steadfast" or "to be firm."
74. **Laiana:** Meaning "a sea maiden."
75. **Lapa:** Meaning "a cave" or "a shelter."
76. **Lau:** Meaning "a leaf" or "a branch."
77. **Lono:** A Hawaiian god of agriculture and fertility.
78. **Lopaka:** Meaning "to be wise" or "to be knowledgeable."
79. **Lualua:** Meaning "a feast" or "a celebration."
80. **Maile:** Meaning "a fragrant flower."
81. **Makai:** Meaning "toward the sea."
82. **Makahiki:** Meaning "a time of peace" or "a festival."
83. **Malama:** Meaning "to take care of" or "to protect."
84. **Malo:** Meaning "a cloth" or "a garment."
85. **Manaku:** Meaning "to see" or "to observe."
86. **Manao:** Meaning "to think" or "to ponder."
87. **Maluhia:** Meaning "peace" or "tranquility."
88. **Mamiya:** Meaning "truth" or "justice."
89. **Mano:** Meaning "shark."
90. **Marques:** A Portuguese surname meaning "merchant."
91. **Martins:** A Portuguese surname meaning "son of Martin."
92. **Mata:** Meaning "to see" or "to witness."
93. **Maui:** A Hawaiian demigod known for his trickery and strength.
94. **Mele:** Meaning "a song" or "a melody."
95. **Menehune:** Meaning "a small people" or "a race of dwarfs."
96. **Merriman:** An English surname meaning "man from Merriman's estate."
97. **Mikami:** A Japanese surname meaning "three peaks."
98. **Mina:** Meaning "a doorway" or "an opening."
99. **Misaki:** A Japanese surname meaning "cape" or "point."
100. **Moana:** Meaning "ocean."
101. **Moikeha:** Meaning "a great chief" or "a powerful leader."
102. **Molina:** A Spanish surname meaning "mill."
103. **Moniz:** A Portuguese surname meaning "son of Moniz."
104. **Nakoa:** Meaning "a warrior" or "a fighter."
105. **Nakamura:** A Japanese surname meaning "middle village."
106. **Nanai:** Meaning "a bird" or "a feather."
107. **Naranjo:** A Spanish surname meaning "orange tree."
108. **Natividad:** A Spanish surname meaning "nativity."
109. **Neto:** A Portuguese surname meaning "grandson."
110. **Nohea:** Meaning "beautiful" or "lovely."
111. **Okada:** A Japanese surname meaning "large field."
112. **Okazaki:** A Japanese surname meaning "hill base."
113. **Olson:** A Scandinavian surname meaning "son of Olaf."
114. **Ono:** A Japanese surname meaning "rice field."
115. **Paakaula:** Meaning "to be humble" or "to be modest."
116. **Palma:** A Spanish surname meaning "palm tree."
117. **Pavao:** A Portuguese surname meaning "peacock."
118. **Pereira:** A Portuguese surname meaning "pear tree."
119. **Pilialoha:** Meaning "to love the country."
120. **Pua:** Meaning "a flower" or "a blossom."
121. **Queiroz:** A Portuguese surname meaning "cheese maker."
122. **Ramos:** A Spanish surname meaning "branches."
123. **Reyes:** A Spanish surname meaning "kings."
124. **Rocha:** A Portuguese surname meaning "rock."
125. **Rodriguez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Rodrigo."
126. **Romero:** A Spanish surname meaning "pilgrim."
127. **Rosario:** A Spanish surname meaning "rosary."
128. **Sabado:** A Spanish surname meaning "Saturday."
129. **Salazar:** A Spanish surname meaning "salt seller."
130. **Sam:** A Korean surname meaning "three."
131. **Sanchez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Sancho."
132. **Santos:** A Spanish surname meaning "saints."
133. **Sasaki:** A Japanese surname meaning "small stone."
134. **Sato:** A Japanese surname meaning "village."
135. **Sawada:** A Japanese surname meaning "saw field."
136. **Silva:** A Portuguese surname meaning "forest."
137. **Soares:** A Portuguese surname meaning "son of Soeiro."
138. **Souza:** A Portuguese surname meaning "from Souza."
139. **Sta. Cruz:** A Spanish surname meaning "Holy Cross."
140. **Suarez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Suarez."
141. **Suzuki:** A Japanese surname meaning "bell tree."
142. **Tabata:** A Japanese surname meaning "rice field."
143. **Tagawa:** A Japanese surname meaning "field river."
144. **Takahashi:** A Japanese surname meaning "high bridge."
145. **Tanabe:** A Japanese surname meaning "rice field."
146. **Tanaka:** A Japanese surname meaning "rice field."
147. **Tatsukawa:** A Japanese surname meaning "dragon river."
148. **Taylor:** An English surname meaning "tailor."
149. **Terada:** A Japanese surname meaning "rice field."
150. **Torres:** A Spanish surname meaning "towers."
151. **Toyama:** A Japanese surname meaning "distant mountain."
152. **Uchida:** A Japanese surname meaning "inside field."
153. **Uehara:** A Japanese surname meaning "upper field."
154. **Umemoto:** A Japanese surname meaning "plum tree base."
155. **Valdez:** A Spanish surname meaning "from the valley."
156. **Velasquez:** A Spanish surname meaning "little veil."
157. **Ventura:** A Spanish surname meaning "good luck."
158. **Vergara:** A Spanish surname meaning "meadow."
159. **Villa:** A Spanish surname meaning "village."
160. **Villegas:** A Spanish surname meaning "city."
161. **Waiapu:** Meaning "to be beautiful."
162. **Waika:** Meaning "to be strong."
163. **Waiolani:** Meaning "beautiful sky."
164. **Waipa:** Meaning "to be blessed."
165. **Wailani:** Meaning "beautiful sea."
166. **Wakabayashi:** A Japanese surname meaning "young tree."
167. **Watanabe:** A Japanese surname meaning "crossing the beach."
168. **Yamada:** A Japanese surname meaning "mountain field."
169. **Yamaguchi:** A Japanese surname meaning "mountain mouth."
170. **Yamashita:** A Japanese surname meaning "foot of the mountain."
171. **Yanagihara:** A Japanese surname meaning "willow field."
172. **Yokoyama:** A Japanese surname meaning "side mountain."
173. **Yoshida:** A Japanese surname meaning "rice field."
174. **Yoshimura:** A Japanese surname meaning "good village."
175. **Young:** An English surname meaning "young person."
176. **Zaldivar:** A Spanish surname meaning "from Zaldivar."
177. **Zepeda:** A Spanish surname meaning "small sheep."
178. **Zuniga:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Zuniga."