Hawaiian Boy Names
Hawaiian boy names are short on letters and big on meaning. Koa means brave, Kekoa “the warrior,” Keanu “the cool breeze” and Kai simply “the sea.” The Hawaiian alphabet has just 13 letters, and every word ends in a vowel, which gives these names their easy, rolling sound. Here are 90+ Hawaiian boy names with meanings and pronunciations.
We’ve grouped them by theme: popular picks, ocean and nature names, names of gods and kings, and Hawaiian versions of English names like Kimo (James) and Kawika (David). For girls, see Hawaiian girl names, or browse all Hawaiian names and Native American boy names.
Popular Hawaiian boy names
These names have spread far beyond the islands. Kai, Koa and Keanu in particular have become familiar across the U.S. in recent years.
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Kai | Sea, ocean | KYE |
| Koa | Brave, fearless; the koa tree | KOH-ah |
| Keanu | The cool breeze | keh-AH-noo |
| Kekoa | The brave one, the warrior | keh-KOH-ah |
| Makoa | Fearless, courageous | mah-KOH-ah |
| Kaleo | The voice, the sound | kah-LEH-oh |
| Kainoa | The name | kye-NOH-ah |
| Nainoa | The names | nye-NOH-ah |
| Kanoa | The free one | kah-NOH-ah |
| Ikaika | Strong, powerful | ee-KYE-kah |
| Makani | Wind, breeze | mah-KAH-nee |
| Kalani | The heavens; royal | kah-LAH-nee |
| Keoni | John | keh-OH-nee |
| Kapono | The righteous one | kah-POH-noh |
| Kealii | The chief | keh-ah-LEE-ee |
| Kaimana | Diamond; power of the sea | kye-MAH-nah |
| Mana | Spiritual power, authority | MAH-nah |
| Kahiau | To give generously from the heart | kah-hee-OW |
| Kekai | The sea | keh-KYE |
| Kamaka | The face; a beloved one | kah-MAH-kah |
Ocean and nature names for boys
Surf, wind and the native animals of the islands make wonderful names for a boy who loves the outdoors. See also names that mean ocean.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nalu | Wave, surf | Unisex |
| Kainalu | The billowing sea | Surfer favorite |
| Aukai | Seafarer, sailor | Adventurous |
| Kawai | The water | Simple |
| Keahi | The fire | Unisex |
| Kahoku | The star | Wayfinder vibe |
| Kamakani | The wind | Breezy |
| Mano | Shark; a family guardian for some | Bold |
| Honu | Green sea turtle | Gentle, lucky |
| Pueo | Hawaiian short-eared owl | Wise |
| Io | Hawaiian hawk | Rare, strong |
| Kukui | Candlenut tree; symbol of enlightenment | State tree of Hawai‘i |
| Kona | Leeward side | Also a coast of Hawai‘i Island |
| Kaiāulu | Gentle trade-wind breeze | Poetic |
| Ahi | Fire; also yellowfin tuna | Short, spirited |
Strong and meaningful Hawaiian boy names
Names that celebrate courage, fame and a good heart, values at the center of Hawaiian culture.
| Name | Meaning | Why we like it |
|---|---|---|
| Kaulana | Famous, renowned | A name to live up to |
| Lanakila | Victory, triumph | Confident |
| Alii | Chief, royalty | Regal |
| Pono | Righteousness, balance | Deeply Hawaiian value |
| Kaimi | The seeker | Curious spirit |
| Kaipo | The sweetheart | Affectionate |
| Kahale | The house, home | Grounded |
| Kekumu | The source, foundation | Steady |
| Nohea | Handsome, lovely | Unisex |
| Kealoha | The loved one | Warm |
| Hoku | Star | Short and bright |
| Akamai | Smart, clever | Witty |
| Kaeo | The victorious (commonly given) | Punchy |
| Noa | Free, released from kapu (taboo) | Short and modern |
| Keola | Life, health | Unisex |
| Kalei | The lei; beloved one | Unisex |
| Kawena | The glow | Warm |
Hawaiian god and legend names
The four great Hawaiian gods, Kū, Kāne, Lono and Kanaloa, and legendary heroes lend mythic power to a name. For more, browse Greek god names and Norse god names.
| Name | Meaning | Story |
|---|---|---|
| Kane | Man; god of creation | Giver of life, fresh water and sunlight |
| Kanaloa | God of the ocean | Patron of voyagers |
| Lono | God of peace and agriculture | Honored during the Makahiki season |
| Ku | God of war and fishing | Also “to stand” |
| Maui | Demigod trickster | Snared the sun and fished up islands |
| Kana | Demigod who could stretch | Brother of Nīheu in legend |
| Kamohoalii | Shark god | Pele’s older brother |
| Kawelo | Legendary warrior of Kaua‘i | Hero of epic chants |
| Umi | Great chief ‘Umi-a-Līloa | Unified Hawai‘i Island in legend |
| Hiku | Hero who rescued his beloved from the underworld | Romantic legend |
Names of Hawaiian kings and chiefs
The Kingdom of Hawai‘i was ruled by eight monarchs from 1810 to 1893. Their names are distinguished, historic choices.
| Name | Meaning | Namesake |
|---|---|---|
| Kamehameha | The lonely one | Kamehameha I, who united the islands |
| Kalakaua | The day of battle | King Kalākaua, “the Merrie Monarch” |
| Lunalilo | So high as to be lost to sight | First elected king of Hawai‘i |
| Liholiho | Glowing, burning | Kamehameha II and IV |
| Kauikeaouli | Placed in the dark clouds | Kamehameha III |
| Keoua | Name of a high chief | Father of Kamehameha I |
| Kuhio | Chiefly name | Prince Kūhiō, delegate to Congress |
| Kaumualii | Chiefly name | Last independent king of Kaua‘i |
| Kekuhaupio | Chiefly name | Warrior who trained Kamehameha |
| Keawe | Name of a high chief | Legendary ancestor of Hawai‘i Island chiefs |
Hawaiian forms of English boy names
Missionary-era Hawaiian adapted English and biblical names to its 13-letter alphabet. Many are still used today, and they’re a clever way to honor a family name. Compare the originals in biblical boy names.
| Hawaiian name | English equivalent | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Kimo | James | KEE-moh |
| Kawika | David | kah-VEE-kah |
| Pekelo | Peter | peh-KEH-loh |
| Lopaka | Robert | loh-PAH-kah |
| Akoni | Anthony | ah-KOH-nee |
| Mikala | Michael | mee-KAH-lah |
| Iokepa | Joseph | ee-oh-KEH-pah |
| Makaio | Matthew | mah-KYE-oh |
| Kale | Charles | KAH-leh |
| Palani | Frank | pah-LAH-nee |
| Maleko | Mark | mah-LEH-koh |
| Kaniela | Daniel | kah-nee-EH-lah |
| Pilipo | Philip | pee-LEE-poh |
| Keaka | Jack | keh-AH-kah |
| Ekewaka | Edward | eh-keh-VAH-kah |
| Wiliama | William | vee-lee-AH-mah |
| Heneli | Henry | heh-NEH-lee |
| Lui | Louis | LOO-ee |
| Kamuela | Samuel | kah-moo-EH-lah |
Tips for choosing a Hawaiian boy name
- Say it the Hawaiian way: vowels are pure (a as in “father,” e as in “bet,” i as in “machine”), and w after i or e often sounds like v, as in Kawika (kah-VEE-kah).
- Many names start with Ka- or Ke-, the Hawaiian word for “the.” Kekoa is “the brave one,” and Kaleo is “the voice.”
- Respect the culture: in Hawai‘i, names can be deeply personal and even come from dreams (inoa pō). If you’re not Hawaiian, choose a documented name and learn its story.
- Consider the ‘okina and macron. Kāne and Kane are different words, so decide whether to keep the diacritics in the legal spelling.
- Pair a Hawaiian first name with a familiar middle name (or vice versa) if you want flexibility; see names that mean brave for matches to Koa or Makoa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Hawaiian boy name?
Kai is the most widely used Hawaiian-origin boy name in the U.S., with Koa, Keanu and Kalani also popular.
What Hawaiian boy name means warrior?
Kekoa means “the brave one” or “the warrior,” and Koa means brave or fearless. Makoa and Ikaika (strong) are also good choices.
What does Keanu mean?
Keanu means “the cool breeze” in Hawaiian. Actor Keanu Reeves, who has Hawaiian heritage, made it famous worldwide.
What is the Hawaiian name for John?
Keoni is the Hawaiian form of John. Ioane is a more formal, biblical version.
Is Kai a Hawaiian name?
Yes, Kai means “sea” in Hawaiian. It also exists independently in other languages, which helps explain its popularity.