All Hawaiian Islands Names: A Comprehensive Guide to the Names and Meanings of the Islands

Discover the captivating stories behind the names of each Hawaiian island. From the volcanic origins of Hawaiʻi to the lush beauty of Kauaʻi, each island name reveals a unique cultural and natural history. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or an armchair explorer, this comprehensive list will deepen your understanding of these enchanting islands.
1. **Hawaiʻi:** The name Hawaiʻi is thought to have originated from the Polynesian word "Hawaiki," a mythical homeland in Polynesian mythology. It is also believed to be derived from the word "hawa," meaning "home" or "place of origin."
2. **Maui:** Maui, the name of the island, is derived from the name of the demigod Maui, a legendary figure who is said to have fished up the Hawaiian Islands from the ocean.
3. **Oʻahu:** Oʻahu derives from the word "oʻahu," meaning "gathering place" or "place of refuge." The island was known as a meeting place for different tribes and clans.
4. **Kauaʻi:** Kauaʻi, the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the Hawaiian word "kaua," meaning "to stretch out" or "to extend." It is believed to refer to the island's long, narrow shape.
5. **Molokaʻi:** Molokaʻi, known for its majestic cliffs and rolling valleys, derives its name from the word "molokini," meaning "the small, oval shape."
6. **Lānaʻi:** Lānaʻi, a smaller island known for its pineapple plantations and luxury resorts, gets its name from the Hawaiian word "lānaʻi," meaning "high terrace" or "platform."
7. **Niʻihau:** Niʻihau, the smallest of the main Hawaiian Islands, is named after the Hawaiian word "niʻihau," which means "small island" or "little islet."
8. **Kahoʻolawe:** Kahoʻolawe, a small, uninhabited island, derives its name from the Hawaiian words "kahoʻo," meaning "to make fast" or "to secure," and "lawe," meaning "to carry" or "to take." It is believed to refer to the island's use as a place to secure and transport goods.
9. **Kaʻula:** Kaʻula, a small, rocky islet located just west of Niʻihau, is named after the Hawaiian word "kaʻula," meaning "sacred" or "holy." It is believed to have been a significant religious site for ancient Hawaiians.
10. **Mokuʻoʻloʻa:** Mokuʻoʻloʻa, a small island located off the coast of Lānaʻi, derives its name from the Hawaiian words "moku," meaning "island" or "rock," and "ʻoʻloʻa," meaning "long" or "extended."
11. **Moku Manu:** Moku Manu, a small, uninhabited island located off the coast of Kauaʻi, gets its name from the Hawaiian words "moku," meaning "island" or "rock," and "manu," meaning "bird." The name translates to "bird island" or "island of birds."
12. **Niihau:** Niihau, the smallest of the main Hawaiian Islands, is named after the Hawaiian word "niʻihau," which means "small island" or "little islet."
13. **Molokini:** Molokini, a small, crescent-shaped islet located off the coast of Maui, gets its name from the Hawaiian word "molokini," meaning "small, oval shape."
14. **Mokuʻauia:** Mokuʻauia, a small island located off the coast of Kauaʻi, derives its name from the Hawaiian words "moku," meaning "island" or "rock," and "ʻauia," meaning "to be carried away" or "to be swept away."
15. **Laysan:** Laysan, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the Hawaiian word "layʻsan," which means "small island" or "little islet."
16. **Lisianski:** Lisianski, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the Russian explorer Yuri Lisiansky.
17. **Midway:** Midway, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from its location halfway between North America and Asia.
18. **Pearl and Hermes Atoll:** Pearl and Hermes Atoll, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the two ships that were wrecked there in the early 1800s.
19. **Kure Atoll:** Kure Atoll, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the Russian explorer Otto von Kotzebue, who named it "Kure" after the Russian word for "crane."
20. **French Frigate Shoals:** French Frigate Shoals, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the French ship "La Frégate" which was wrecked there in 1792.
21. **Necker Island:** Necker Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the British explorer James Cook, who named it after the British frigate "HMS Necker."
22. **Gardner Pinnacles:** Gardner Pinnacles, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American explorer Captain Charles Wilkes, who named it after the American naturalist John Gardner.
23. **Mokumanu:** Mokumanu, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the Hawaiian words "moku," meaning "island" or "rock," and "manu," meaning "bird."
24. **Kingman Reef:** Kingman Reef, a small, uninhabited reef located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American whaling captain Charles Kingman.
25. **Palmyra Atoll:** Palmyra Atoll, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American whaler Captain Edmund Fanning.
26. **Jarvis Island:** Jarvis Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American sea captain Elijah Jarvis.
27. **Howland Island:** Howland Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American whaling captain George Howland.
28. **Baker Island:** Baker Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American whaling captain Michael Baker.
29. **Johnston Atoll:** Johnston Atoll, a small, uninhabited atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American naval officer James Johnston.
30. **Wake Island:** Wake Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from the American whaling captain William Wake.
31. **Sand Island:** Sand Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from its sandy beaches.
32. **North Island:** North Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from its location in the northern part of the island chain.
33. **South Island:** South Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from its location in the southern part of the island chain.
34. **East Island:** East Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from its location in the eastern part of the island chain.
35. **West Island:** West Island, a small, uninhabited island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gets its name from its location in the western part of the island chain.
36. **ʻOʻahu:** Oʻahu derives from the word "oʻahu," meaning "gathering place" or "place of refuge." The island was known as a meeting place for different tribes and clans.
37. **Waimānalo:** Waimānalo, a coastal town located on the southeast shore of Oʻahu, derives its name from the Hawaiian words "wai," meaning "water," and "mānalo," meaning "long or extended." It is believed to refer to the long, sandy beach in the area.
38. **Waimanalo Beach Park:** Waimānalo Beach Park, a popular beach located in Waimānalo, Oʻahu, is named after the town.
39. **Kailua:** Kailua, a town located on the northeast shore of Oʻahu, derives its name from the Hawaiian word "kailua," meaning "two seas" or "two bodies of water." It is believed to refer to the town's location between Kailua Bay and Kaneohe Bay.
40. **Kaneohe:** Kaneohe, a town located on the northeast shore of Oʻahu, derives its name from the Hawaiian word "kaneohe," meaning "sea of Kane" or "place where Kane dwells." Kane was a god in Hawaiian mythology, often associated with the ocean.